DIPOLOG CITY, FEB 7(PIA)--- The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) has scored anew in its campaign against the human trafficking in the country.
This, after the joint elements of IACAT, Tawi-Tawi Police Provincial Office and Tawi-Tawi Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office have rescued 18 individuals (7 women and 11 men) on board M/V Trisha 2, and were about to be brought to Malaysia.
The rescued victims are now in the custody of the DSWD for debriefing and counseling.
Meanwhile, 13 sexually-exploited women and 18 victims of illegal recruitment were also rescued by IACAT in Laguna last Wednesday.
They were rescued by the joint elements of IACAT, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Department of Justice at a resort in Biñan, Laguna, posing as customers and ordered young women from the pimps for a stag party at the Presko Resort in Barangay San Antonio.
Both the rescued victims and the suspects are now in the custody of the PNP-CIDG and appropriate case has been filed in court against the suspects for violation of Republic Act 9208, otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
Anent to this, Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also the Chairman Emeritus of IACAT has commended the members of IACAT for their successful operation in preventing the transport of human trafficking and illegal recruitment victims out of the country, using the southern port of the country as its exit point.
According to Binay, the successful operation of IACAT increases the chances of the Philippines to improve its status in the Global Trafficking in Persons Report of the United States State Department.(ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)