Nine suspected human trafficking victims were saved at Tawi-Tawi airport
In a joint operation between local institutions and law enforcement agencies, nine individuals were rescued from a potential human trafficking attempt at the Sanga-Sanga Airport in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi on Saturday, August 30, 2020.
The Tawi-Tawi Maritime Police Station (Marpsta) led the rescue operation, which was part of the verification and profiling of passengers at the airport. Rosabelle Sulani, head of the Municipal Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Miacat)-Bongao, was also involved in the investigation of the case.
Upon being rescued, the nine individuals were taken to the headquarters of the 1st Special Operations Unit for documentation. The rescued individuals, which included six men and three women, were headed to Tawau, Malaysia, and the other four to Bangkok, Thailand. They had been offered jobs by a person known as alias "Sky."
Following the successful rescue, the Tawi-Tawi Marpsta and Miacat-Bongao issued a warning about job offers abroad that require immediate departure from the country. The warning was not related to any specific website.
The rescued individuals were then transferred to the care of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development in Bongao. The Tawi-Tawi Marpsta released a statement regarding the successful rescue, praising the close cooperation between law enforcement agencies and local institutions in ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.
Local authorities and law enforcement agencies have urged anyone with information about human trafficking activities to come forward and report it immediately. The call to those involved in the human trafficking attempt rescued at Bongao Airport on August 27 was made by these authorities.
The operation was conducted at the airport of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, and marks a significant step in the ongoing fight against human trafficking in the region. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and cooperation in protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse.
