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| The rescued Filipinos were found inside this cramped boat headed out to sea |
Four Filipinos recruited to work illegally in China as domestic helpers were among 38 Filipinos rescued by anti-human trafficking operatives aboard a wooden-hulled cargo vessel off Zamboanga City on August 8.
According to a Department of Migrant Workers’
Facebook post, eight of those rescued were all females, and were in possession
of valid Philippine passports with tourist visas to China.\
Four of them said they were recruited to work as domestic
helpers in China, with a promise that they would be paid 10,000 RMB (Php79,000)
each monthly. They all had been previously offloaded or barred from leaving by
Philippine immigration authorities.
The four others said they were bound for Malaysia,
and were meant to travel using undocumented sea routes.
Pindutin para sa detalye
The other passengers on the cramped boat who were
identified as victims of suspected human trafficking and illegal recruitment were
14 males (12 adults and 2 minors) and 16 females (22 adults and 2 minors).
The DMW statement did not disclose where the other
passengers were headed.
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| The wooden boat at the wharf where 3 facilitators of the human trafficking were arrested |
Three individuals arrested on the wharf were identified by the victims as the facilitators of the illegal recruitment and transport. They remain in custody while appropriate charges are being readied against them.
Further investigation is being carried out to
identify and arrest other possible co-conspirators.
At least four of the rescued individuals have reportedly
expressed willingness to testify against the recruiters and facilitators with
support from the Women and Children Protection Center.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Following the rescue, all victims were transported
to the PDCP Facility in Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga City, where they were given
temporary shelter, food and medical attention with psychological intervention through
the efforts of the Department of Social Welfare in the region.
The victims were also given orientation on safe
migration practices and on the government assistance programs they can avail of
moving forward.
The boat they were on was identified as ML J-Sayang. It was boarded by law enforcers
at Taha Wharf in Baliwasan, Zamboanga City and was said to be bound for Taganak
Island, from where the victims were to be moved through unauthorized channels
for overseas employment.
The rescue operation was carried out through the combined
efforts of the Zamboanga Sea-based Anti-Trafficking Task Force, of which the Department
of Migrant Workers Regional Office IX is a member.
Several other government agencies including the National
Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the Philippine Coast Guard had a hand in
the operation.
