PCG: Multi-agency forces successfully rescued two female would-be victims of human trafficking during an operation at Passenger Terminal Hub, Port of Zamboanga last Monday, October 23.

The alleged victims were identified as Majel G Barte, 24 years old, a resident of Tapaz, Iloilo and Cynthia C. Bien, 42 years old of San Carlos City, Bacolod.

The Sea Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force or SBATTF is composed of agencies from the Coast Guard Station Zamboanga, Philippine Ports Authority Port Police, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, Department of Justice, Philippine Center for Transnational Crime, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

According to the intelligence report received by said authorities also revealed that Barte and Bien left Roxas City onboard a commercial plane which arrived in Zamboanga International Airport last 22 October via Manila. The victims were scheduled to depart onboard M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 from Zamboanga bound for Sandakan, Malaysia which was pre-arranged by a certain “Flor”, alleged recruiter from Zamboanga City who promised them for a greener pasture in Malaysia in exchange of certain amount salary.

Subsequently, the victims were properly turned-over to DSWD Home for Women in Barangay San Roque, Zamboanga City for proper disposition.