Philippines Coast Guard rescues 13 alleged human trafficking victims

On 16 December, personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station in Zamboanga, together with other government agencies, rescued 13 alleged human trafficking victims at the Port of Zamboanga in Zamboanga City.

The victims, which were all females, were rescued while onboard MV Antonia-1, a vessel owned and operated by Aleson Shipping Line Incorporated. It was scheduled to depart Zamboanga City bound to Sandakan, Sabah.

Initial assessment revealed that the majority of the victims came from Luzon. After the profiling, they were turned-over to DSWD in Barangay San Roque, Zamboanga City for further investigation and case build-up operation.

The Coast Guard said in its report: “Personnel of BRP Malamawi and PCG District South Western Mindanao – Special Operation Unit secured the perimeter of the vessel and initiated the arrest after one of the victims confirmed the identity of the suspect.”

The joint rescue team was composed of personnel from: PCG Station in Zamboanga, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Justice (DOJ) in Region IX, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), and the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) in Western Mindanao.