176 trafficking, illegal recruitment victims rescued

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) was able to rescue last May a total of 176 victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

In a report to the Department of Justice (DOJ), IACAT Operations Center (IACAT-OPCEN) Head Ramon Yap said the rescue was made in separate operations against several recruitment agencies.

Yap identified the two recruitment agencies Global Connect Manpower Resources and Development, Inc. and Liszil International Manpower Agency.

The officials of the recruitment agencies were recommended for prosecution for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9208 (Expanded Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012) as amended and RA 8042 (Migrant Workers and Overseas Act of 1995) as amended.

Yap said the IACAT was able to rescue from Global 137 victims including 25 minors who were each offered jobs with a P20,000 salary as household service workers in Saudi Arabia.

However, they were found padlocked inside an accommodation house while awaiting deployment.

The IACAT was also able to rescue 39 female recruits including seven minors from Liszil’s accommodation house in San Andres Bukid, Manila.

The minor victims have been brought to the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The IACAT is the body mandated by law to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

It is headed by the DOJ Secretary and co-chaired by the DSWD Secretary.