50 victims of human trafficking rescued

MANILA, Philippines - Fifty women victims of human trafficking were rescued in Zamboanga City yesterday, Vice President Jejomar Binay said.

In a hastily called press conference at the Office of the Vice President at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City, Binay said the victims were mostly minors and are residents of Makiri, Isabela City in Basilan.

Binay, chairman emeritus of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and chairman of the Presidential Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment, said the victims were placed under the custody of the Visayan Forum and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“I am happy to announce that around 11:30 a.m., the Task Force Against Human Trafficking rescued 50 young girls in Zamboanga City who are possibly victims of human trafficking,” Binay said.

He said all the victims were promised scholarship grants by their recruiter whose name was withheld.

He added that the recruiter told the victims that they would undergo an examination under the supervision of the National Youth Commission (NYC).

“But based on the investigation by the Task Force Against Human Trafficking, NYC commissioner Earl Saavedra confirmed that the NYC has not scheduled any examinations,” Binay said.

He said the victims’ recruiter, employed in the government, was arrested.

The recruiter will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Human Trafficking Act and RA 7610 or the Protection Against Child Abuse.

Binay lauded the Task Force Against Human Trafficking and the Visayan Forum, a non-government organization active in the campaign against human trafficking, for their role in the rescue of the victims and the arrest of the recruiter.

“This only shows the determination of the Aquino government in the campaign against human trafficking,” Binay said.