By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested five suspected human traffickers and rescued 10 victims, including nine minors, in Barangay Baquioen, Sual, Pangasinan on May 1.
The NBI presented the suspects to members of the media on Tuesday, including two Chinese nationals identified as Zhonggang Qui and Wenwed Qui and three Filipinos identified as Angielyn Ramirez, Marichelle Ambrosio, and Jay Amor.
They were arrested by operatives of the NBI Cybercrime Division and Special Task Force following an intelligence report that a Chinese national named Hou Shilian is employing underage workers and harboring undocumented foreign nationals in his compound.
The victims said they were recruited from Northern Samar and were forced to work and subjected to debt bondage.
They said they were also threatened with firearms and assigned to demanding tasks, including hauling fish feed and tending to offshore cages in Lingayen Gulf.
Investigations revealed that two of the rescued minors are pregnant by their live-in partners, who are 23 and 22 years old, which may lead to statutory rape charges.
NBI agents also found that the fish pen operations were primarily owned and controlled by Chinese nationals and posed environmental and public utility risks.
The NBI said the suspect has undergone inquest proceedings for qualified trafficking under Republic Act No. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003), as amended by R.A. No. 10364 and R.A. No. 11862.
They are also facing charges for violating R.A. No. 9231 (An Act Providing for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor), R.A. No. 8550 (The Fisheries Code of the Philippines), and R.A. No. 12022 for Economic Sabotage. (PNA)
