64 Malaysia-bound Pinoys intercepted

A TOTAL of 64 persons bound for Malaysia were intercepted last month by agents of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi province, Vice President Jejomar Binay said on Friday.

The victims of human trafficking were intercepted in three successive operations on October 5, 7 and 8 for failing to present travel documents to Malaysia.

“The Bongao seaport is a favorite exit point of trafficking syndicates due to its proximity to the Malaysian mainland,” said Binay, who is the chairman emeritus of Iacat.

He added that the 64, who were recruited from various parts of the country, have been turned over to a non-governmental organization for debriefing, counseling and temporary shelter.

Meanwhile, the Vice President said that Iacat has intensified its campaign against domestic labor trafficking.

Recently, joint operatives of the Iacat and the National Bureau of Investigation rescued two women, including a 15-year-old minor, from their allegedly abusive employer in Pasig City.

The two women who hail from Zamboanga del Norte province said that they were originally promised to work as salesladies in Marawi City but were instead brought to Manila on July 30 to work as domestic helpers.

Binay said that according to the two, they were not allowed to go outside and were only paid a month’s worth of wages, despite having worked for their employer for four months. The two victims said that they had wanted to go home but were prevented by their employer from doing so.

The employer of the victims had been arrested and is now in the custody of the Investigation bureau.