MANILA, Philippines – Forty women have been saved by the Coast Guard from possible human trafficking in Zamboanga.
According to authorities, the victims were on board passenger ship M/V Wendelyn, which was set to dock in Taganak Island in Tawi-Tawi.
Taganak Island, according to the Coast Guard, is a known backdoor for victims of human trafficking bound for Malaysia.
Authorities also said that M/V Wendelyn was overloaded with 42 passengers over its recommended capacity of 58.
Initial reports of the combined force of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and anti-human-trafficking group Visayan Forum Foundation revealed that most of the rescued victims were minors.
The DSWD and Visayan Forum added that all of the victims do not have proper travel documents.
Social worker Socorro Rojas said the women, who possibly came from various parts of Western Mindanao, could be victims of illegal recruitment.
Rojas added that extreme poverty may have pushed the victims to take their chances abroad.
The minors are now under the custody of DSWD social workers and the Visayan Forum.
Meanwhile, Capt. Perfecto Eden of the Zamboanga Station Coast Guard said that proper action willl be taken against the owner of M/V Wendelyn before the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) for possible violations of several maritime laws.
An investigation is still ongoing to determine the illegal recruiters of the victims. - Report from RJ Rosalado
