ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - - At least 123 human trafficking victims, about a dozen of them minors, who were trying to slip to Sabah were intercepted and rescued by the authorities in two separate operations Wednesday in this city.
The fresh rescue came when combined personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), police and the Sea-based anti-Trafficking Task Force (SBATTF) received intelligence reports about 43 persons on board on two passenger motorboats at the wharf of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Wednesday night.
Philippine Coast Guard Station commander Lieutenant Senior Grade Jomark Angue said the victims, in two batches, were intercepted about 7 p.m aboard two vessels - M/V Lady Mary Joy and M/V Ever Queen Emilia.
The coast official said they conducted the operation following reports from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) about workers supposedly hired for deep sea fishing in Tawi-Tawi, but ended up being maltreated and unpaid.
In the rescue Wednesday night, Angue said the victims came from Bohol and Cebu.
The rescued persons claimed they were hired to work as fishermen in Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.
Authorities are now investigating possible cases of ‘muro ami’ (a destructive fishing method employed at the coral reefs using weight fragments to scare fish)
Early on the same day, at least 40 human trafficking victims were also rescued by the SBATTF in a private wharf at sitio Baliwasan Seaside.
The law enforcement group also arrested the alleged recruiter of the victims who was identified as a certain O Daniel.
The victims were intercepted about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday aboard M/L Julmina that was scheduled to leave for Sabah via Bakungan, Taganak Island off Tawi-Tawi.
The victims who were from Davao and Zamboanga peninsula include 31 men, 17 women and 11 children.
All the rescued victims were brought to the DSWD. - Roel Pareño