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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 3 persons arrested, 27 human trafficking victims rescued in Tawi-Tawi -- NBI

3 persons arrested, 27 human trafficking victims rescued in Tawi-Tawi -- NBI

Published Sep 10, 2025 04:24 pm
Three travel facilitators were arrested and 27 human trafficking victims were rescued during operations conducted by government authorities in Tawi-Tawi, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
In a statement, the NBI identified those arrested as Sanilyn Hashim, Nursida Asanuddin, and Halon Mozamil who have been charged with violations of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.
It said the three suspects were arrested during operations conducted last Sept. 5 and 6 by joint teams from the NBI, Philippine National Police (PNP), Ninoy Aquino International Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIATFAT), Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Zamboanga Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force (ZSBATTF).
They were arrested upon their arrival at the Sanga-Sanga Airport in Tawi-Tawi.
The NBI said the operation was conducted based on “a complaint filed by one of the human trafficking victims (HTVs), who alleged that a specific group of individuals was involved in human trafficking by recruiting and transporting victims to work abroad illegally.”
It said the complainant informed the NBI that he was traveling with other recruits to work in suspected scam hubs in Cambodia.
“Investigation conducted by the NBI-HTRAD (Human Trafficking Division) revealed that the recruitment process was done through online messaging platforms, and victims were forced or coerced into crossing international borders using backchannels,” it also said.
The complainant also disclosed that he was recruited via Telegram by the group to work in a POGO hub in Cambodia, it added.
Instead of taking a direct route to Cambodia, the HTVs were instructed to travel through Manila, Zamboanga, Tawi-Tawi, Malaysia, and finally Cambodia, the NBI said.
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