Anti-trafficking agencies rescue 22 persons in Tawi-Tawi

Part of the 17 individuals rescued by anti-trafficking agencies from MV Evergreen on August 2. —PHOTO FROM NAVAL FORCES WESTERN MINDANAO

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Twenty-two individuals traveling to Sabah, Malaysia without the necessary travel documents were rescued in two separate police operations in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi this month.

Philippine Navy Lt. Chester Ross Cabaltera, spokesperson of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), said five men were rescued on Tuesday, August 6, inside MV Trisha Kerstin 2 docked at the port of Bongao; while four days before, on August 2, authorities rescued 17 persons including two minors aboard M/V Everqueen of Asia, also at the port of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

This brought to 140 the total number of persons apprehended in Tawi-Tawi and rescued from possible human trafficking in the country of their destination since January this year.

“Based on their narratives, the rescued individuals aboard the MV Trisha Kerstin 2 on Tuesday were on their way to Kiningaw, Sabah,” Cabaltera said. “But they could not show the proper documents, which makes them vulnerable to human trafficking,” he added.

Of the 17 rescued individuals aboard the MV Evergreen on August 2, six were women, nine were men and two were boys (minors). They were bound for Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, where they were promised jobs once they reached there through the backdoor.

Part of the 17 individuals rescued by anti-trafficking agencies from MV Evergreen on August 2. —PHOTO FROM NAVAL FORCES WESTERN MINDANAO

Authorities had been on alert against individuals travelling without necessary papers through the Bongao port in Tawi-Tawi, known to be a backdoor to neighboring Sabah, Malaysia. Cabaltera said the lack of necessary travel documents would make an individual an easy prey to human trafficking.

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He said port and boat personnel in Tawi-Tawi were already briefed on how to detect would-be victims of human trafficking, especially if passengers could hardly produce the necessary papers and documents for travel.

Once detected, authorities are immediately informed and rescued individuals are immediately brought to the maritime police station for further profiling and documentation.

Cabaltera lauded the crew members of the two commercial vessels for their vigilance.

Rear Admiral Francisco Tagamolila, NFWM commander, said the success of the operation was largely due to the cooperation of different government agencies, including the Local Council Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children (LGU-LCAT VAWC) and the Municipal Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (MIACAT).

After an interview with the maritime police, the rescued individuals were turned over to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) in Bongao for stress debriefing and counseling.