ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A multi-agency task force against human trafficking rescued 75 people from a motor launch in a coastal village west of this city on Tuesday morning, police said.
The Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force (SBATTF), which is composed of police and military units, approached the M/L Yasda for inspection while it was anchored off Baradero de Recodo in Barangay Cawit.
The City Police Office reported that during the board and search operation, the anti-trafficking unit rescued at 75 people who were bound for Taganak Island before going to Sabah. Among those rescued were 17 minors.
According to investigators, the boat's captain claimed that they were already in Baluk-Baluk Island off Hadji Mutamad Municipality, an island town of Basilan, when they were forced to sail back to Zamboanga City because of mechanical trouble.
But police believe the boat tried to slip towards Taganak or Turtle Island but was forced to return as security in the areas has been heightened due to the recent abduction of Malaysian nationals off Sabah. The captive Malaysians are believed to have been brought to the Philippines by gunmen believed to be members f the Abu Sayyaf group.
The rescued victims were brought to the social welfare office for proper documentation and to determine their places of origin.
According to a VERA Files report in 2014, the Malaysian government regularly deports undocumented Filipino workers who go there because they cannot find work in their hometowns. Many work in exploitative conditions but are lured into crossing the porous border with Malaysia because they can potentially earn more than in the Philippines.
For more Filipino News and updates, Don't forget to click "pinoy channel TV ABS-CBN".
Article source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/04/05/1569698/75-trafficking-victims-rescued-boat-zamboanga-city
The Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force (SBATTF), which is composed of police and military units, approached the M/L Yasda for inspection while it was anchored off Baradero de Recodo in Barangay Cawit.
The City Police Office reported that during the board and search operation, the anti-trafficking unit rescued at 75 people who were bound for Taganak Island before going to Sabah. Among those rescued were 17 minors.
According to investigators, the boat's captain claimed that they were already in Baluk-Baluk Island off Hadji Mutamad Municipality, an island town of Basilan, when they were forced to sail back to Zamboanga City because of mechanical trouble.
But police believe the boat tried to slip towards Taganak or Turtle Island but was forced to return as security in the areas has been heightened due to the recent abduction of Malaysian nationals off Sabah. The captive Malaysians are believed to have been brought to the Philippines by gunmen believed to be members f the Abu Sayyaf group.
The rescued victims were brought to the social welfare office for proper documentation and to determine their places of origin.
According to a VERA Files report in 2014, the Malaysian government regularly deports undocumented Filipino workers who go there because they cannot find work in their hometowns. Many work in exploitative conditions but are lured into crossing the porous border with Malaysia because they can potentially earn more than in the Philippines.
For more Filipino News and updates, Don't forget to click "pinoy channel TV ABS-CBN".
Article source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/04/05/1569698/75-trafficking-victims-rescued-boat-zamboanga-city
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