19 alleged trafficking victims rescued in Tawi-Tawi

DAVAO CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assisted in rescuing 19 individuals alleged to be victims of human trafficking on board a passenger/RoRo vessel at the Port of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, on October 11, 2024.

While conducting a routine roving inspection, the PCG Sea Marshals noticed a group of passengers discussing their intentions to travel to Malaysia. In response, the Coast Guard personnel coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Police Station to conduct a thorough screening of the passengers.

The alleged trafficking victims were escorted to the PNP Maritime Police Station for further investigation. The Municipal Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking (MIACAT) conducted profiling, and during interviews, the victims revealed their intention to travel to Sabah, Malaysia, via an illegal backdoor route to seek work without proper documentation.

MIACAT took charge of providing shelter for the alleged victims, offering counseling and stress debriefing. Subsequently, they were transported to the Ministry of Social Services Development (MSSD) in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, for additional assistance.