AUTHORITIES have intercepted and rescued two potential victims of trafficking in person (TIP) in the province of Tawi-Tawi, the police said Sunday, January 26, 2025.
The police did not identify the rescued potential TIP who are all women of legal age and rescued on Saturday, January 25.
The police said the two were rescued on board a vessel traveling from Zamboanga City to Mapun, Tawi-Tawi by the personnel of the Maritime Special Boat Crew (MSBC) based in the island municipality of Mapun.
“The two women, vulnerable to becoming victims of TIP, were planning to travel to Malaysia through an unauthorized backdoor route,” the police said.
The Mapun Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) learned from the two women that a relative in Malaysia had promised them employment, despite their lack of proper travel authority and work documents.
The Rescued potential TIP victims are now under the custody of the MSWDO in Mapun, Tawi-tawi for proper disposition.
The Philippine National Police-Maritime Group urged the public to remain vigilant and report illegal recruitment activities to prevent exploitation and protect vulnerable individuals from human trafficking. (SunStar Zamboanga)