The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) participated in the operations of the Regional Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (RIACAT) to rescue 13 female Trafficking in Persons (TIP) victims and arrest one perpetrator at Sitio Gaunan Asibih, Barangay Gaunan in the municipality of Maluso, Basilan on 24 March 2021.

Initial investigation revealed the TIP victims were around 21 to 40 years old and residents of Metro Manila, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Capiz, Zamboanga del Norte, and Maguindanao.

The RIACAT operations occurred aboard a pre-arranged watercraft bound for Malaysia where the TIP victims will be forced to work through illegal means.

They received humanitarian assistance and were escorted to the Maluso Municipal Police Station for proper documentation.

Afterwards, the TIP victims were ferried to the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office – IX where they underwent swab test and submitted to mandatory quarantine before their coordinated transportation back to their families.