THE Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) rescued during the weekend more than 300 members of the indigenous tribe Badjao from Zamboanga City who fell prey to human traffickers.
In a statement, the IACAT said the victims were rescued at the Manila North Harbor last Friday.
An investigation to identify the traffickers is ongoing, the statement added.
“All passengers were turned over to a facility for temporary shelter in Quezon city under the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa program of the National Housing Authority,” the IACAT said.
It said 281 of the victims were brought back to Zamboanga City yesterday via a transport ship of the Philippine Navy, while 21 will continue to stay at the facility due to health reasons.
The IACAT operation was based on information provided by its Zamboanga City office andthe Philippine Coast Guard that a group of Badjaos departed the city last June 2 bound for Manila.
“The information further disclosed that their travel was facilitated or sponsored by an undisclosed individual,” the IACAT said.
