BONGAO, TAWI-TAWI — Six individuals believed to be victims of human trafficking were successfully rescued by the Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC) and Joint Task Force Poseidon in a joint law enforcement operation in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, on October 14, 2025.
According to Lt. Commander Chester Ross Cabaltera, spokesperson of WMNC, the victims were “believed to be en route to a neighboring country through unauthorized channels.”
Initial verification and profiling of passengers arriving from Zamboanga City led to the rescue of three victims. Authorities immediately conducted a follow-up operation in Barangay Poblacion, Bongao, which resulted in the recovery of three more individuals. However, the suspected recruiter managed to evade arrest and remains at large.
The six rescued victims, identified as residents of Bulacan, Parañaque, and Pasay City, were turned over to the Municipal Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (MIACAT) and the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) in Bongao for counselling, temporary shelter, and further assistance.
Cabaltera said that authorities are continuing their coordination to track down and apprehend the suspected recruiter. He added that WMNC, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, intelligence units, and local government offices, remains steadfast in its commitment to combat human trafficking and enforce maritime law to protect Filipinos from exploitation and transnational crimes.