7 minors rescued from human traffickers in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Seven minors who fell victim to illegal trafficking were rescued while two suspected traffickers were arrested at a Manila port last week, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Monday. Head Agent Roland Argabioso, chief of Field Operations Division (FOD), said NBI agents rescued three boys and four girls during an operation in Pier 12, North Harbor in Manila around 4 a.m. June 4 shortly after their arrival from Dipolog City. Argabioso added that two persons were arrested during the operations, while another remains at large. The suspects will be charged with violation of Section 4 (a) in relation to Sec. 6 (a) of Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003). Argabioso said the rescue operation stemmed from an information received from an informant that several minors from Dipolog City were being recruited and promised jobs as saleslady in a department store in Manila. According to the informant, the minors are unaware of the modus operandi of the recruiter who would sell them into prostitution. The informant further said that the names and ages of the victims were changed when tickets were purchased for a trip to Manila, on board M/V Dipolog Princess. The NBI then set up a rescue operation on June 4 to rescue the trafficked persons and for the arrest of the suspects. Around 4 a.m., authorities spotted one of the victims and followed her as she headed toward a parking area where she was approached by a woman and a man. The three then proceeded to Moriones St., where a white FX van was waiting. Operatives of the NBI then approached the group and immediately arrested the two suspects. - GMANews.TV