11 Saved in Rescue Operation

After a rescue operation led by the Sea-Based Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (SBATTF), eleven human trafficking victims were saved and the suspected “facilitator” was arrested in Zamboanga City.

Superintendent Diomarie Albarico, Police Station 11 chief said that the victims were rescued around 5 a.m., Wednesday, July 13 at a hotel along Tomas Claudio Street in the village of Zone III.

The rescue operation was made after the multi-agency task force received information on the presence of a group of women who were scheduled to travel to Malaysia in a wooden-hulled vessel from this city.

Confirming that they were victims of human trafficking, Albarico withheld the names of the victims who were all women from National Capital Region, Rizal, Cavite, Pangasinan, Laguna, Cagayan Valley and Iloilo.

According to the victims, they were promised to be employed as domestic helpers with good pay in Dubai, Singapore and Saudi Arabia. The oldest among them aged 43 and the youngest is 21.

The arrested facilitator was identified as Radzmil, 34, and a resident of the city.

His companions, however, managed to escape.

“The rescued victims were turned over at Home for Women for temporary shelter while the arrested facilitator was detained and appropriate charges are set to be filed against him.” Albarico said. --- with Bong Garcia

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