VP Binay lauds successive rescue of trafficking victims in Tawi-Tawi

By OVP Media
May 25, 2012

MANILA  –  Authorities have rescued a total of 19 women, including two minors, from being trafficked outside the country in four separate rescue operations in Bongao town in Tawi-Tawi, Vice President Binay said Friday.

Binay, who sits as the Chairman Emeritus of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), lauded the successful rescues and said the latest string of operations showed “the government’s commitment to curb human trafficking in the country.”

“Yesterday’s rescue included two minors from the Zamboanga peninsula, aged 16 and 17 years old, while the operations on May 23 led to the rescue of eight women and the arrest of one suspect. We believe the women were about to be smuggled out of the country.” Binay said.

The anti-trafficking czar said human trafficking syndicates were using the Bongao seaport to “facilitate the transportation of the victims” to foreign destinations.

“Most of the women were from Zamboanga, but some came from Metro Manila and even as far as La Union,” the Vice President added.

Binay said the rescue operations were led by combined forces of the Tawi-tawi Police Provincial Anti-Trafficking Task Group (PATTG) and the Bongao Inter-Agency Task Forces Against Trafficking (BIATFAT).

The Vice President also announced the rescue of 23 women, including one minor, who were being peddled for sexual services in Calamba, Laguna, following an entrapment operation led by the Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) and members of the IACAT.

Four pimps, whom Binay said were “notorious” in the Calamba area, were also arrested.

All victims are now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“I thank all the member-agencies of the IACAT for their unwavering vigilance in going after human trafficking syndicates, especially those who exploit our women and children,” Binay said.

He said the suspects will be charged with violation of RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

The IACAT previously rescued 50 women in Zamboanga City, most of whom were minors, who were suspected to be human trafficking victims.