The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other maritime law enforcement teams apprehended two suspects and rescued five alleged victims of human trafficking on board a Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) passenger vessel in Batangas Port on August 13.
The individuals boarded the vessel, which departed from Culasi Port in Roxas City and bound for Batangas Port in Batangas City via Tablas Port in Odiongan, Romblon, at around 4pm on August 12.
Upon receipt of the information, the Coast Guard Station in Batangas immediately established communication with two duty sea marshals onboard and coordinated with the Captain of the subject vessel to monitor the location of the subject vessel for the apprehension of subject persons.
Personnel from the Coast Guard Substation in Romblon immediately scrutinized the passenger manifest submitted by said vessel, and revealed that only a certain “Mylene Parenes” was included in the manifest while two others were not. Vince Lopez
Joint teams from CGS Batangas, and Sub-Stations in Batangas City and Mabini, Coast Guard K9 Field Operating Unit and Special Operations Unit in Southern Tagalog, and Sea Marshal Unit together with authorities from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group and local police in Batangas City, the Port Police of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Asian Terminals Institute (ATI) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also joined the said operations.
PCG in Batangas coordinated with the local police in Batangas for a briefing prior to the conduct of apprehension for said suspects.
The joint apprehending team headed by PNP Batangas City immediately proceeded to Batangas Port, Ferry Berth 1 to intercept the alleged illegal recruiters and the victims.
After apprehending the suspects, the alleged victims of human trafficking were turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Women and Children Protection Desk in Batangas City and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the filing of charges, counseling, and stress debriefing.