Two minor girls from Maguindanao del Sur who fell victim to illegal recruitment were safely reunited with their families on March 12, 2026, following the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) and several partner agencies working to combat human trafficking.
The victims, both minors, were reportedly recruited to work abroad as household service workers. Authorities intercepted them while attempting to leave the country, leading to their offloading at the airport. After being rescued, the girls were temporarily placed under the care of the Tahanan ng Inyong Pag-Asa (TIP) Center in Mandaluyong City to ensure their protection and welfare.
Personnel from the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) of MSSD immediately coordinated with concerned agencies in Metro Manila to facilitate the formal turnover of the minors and begin the process of reintegrating them back into their families and communities.
As part of the intervention process, a case conference was conducted at the TIP Center with representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development–National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR), the Department of Justice–Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT), and TIP Center personnel. The meeting aimed to ensure proper case management and guarantee the continued protection and support for the rescued victims.
Jan Michella Agata, RRPTP Focal Person of MSSD, explained that the minors were rescued from separate incidents of illegal recruitment and emphasized that their recruitment clearly violated existing laws designed to protect vulnerable individuals from trafficking.
“The minors we rescued came from different cases of illegal recruitment. Under Republic Act 11862, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022, applicants for household service work abroad must be at least 24 years old. Recruiting minors for such employment is a clear violation of the law,” Agata said.
Agata stressed that the MSSD remains committed to safeguarding victims of human trafficking and supporting their recovery through comprehensive reintegration programs.
“Our priority is to ensure the safe return and reintegration of victim-survivors to their families and communities. Through the RRPTP, we provide aftercare services and maintain coordination with partner agencies to help them recover and rebuild their lives,” she added.
As part of the reintegration process, the MSSD will provide various forms of assistance to the victims and their families. These include livelihood support, educational assistance, and other essential services such as legal aid, all based on a thorough assessment of their needs.
Authorities reiterated their call for heightened vigilance against illegal recruitment and human trafficking, particularly in vulnerable communities, and encouraged the public to report suspicious recruitment activities to help prevent more individuals—especially minors—from falling victim to exploitation.