123 human trafficking victims rescued in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — At least 123 human trafficking victims were rescued in a remote island town in Sulu on Tuesday.

Personnel of Naval Task Force 61, First Boat Attack Division and naval intelligence operatives of the police Special Action Force swooped down on Tubalubac Island after receiving reports on the presence of human trafficking victims, Rear Admiral Donn Anthony Miraflor, Naval Forces Western Mindanao commander, said.

Miraflor said representatives from the Ministry of Labor and Employment and Ministry of Social Services and Development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Women and Children Protection Center Mindanao field unit accompanied the raiding team.

The recruiters and handlers of the victims, led by a certain Jammang, managed to escape.

Three rifles, a handgun, rounds of ammunition, blasting caps, a length of time fuse and 10 grams of shabu were allegedly recovered at the scene.

Miraflor said a majority of the rescued victims were recruited from Cebu and Bohol.

The victims said they were subjected to forced labor and coerced to use illegal drugs to endure their work conditions.