Maritime police have rescued five women, two of them in their teens, from a Western Visayas-based human trafficking syndicate in North Harbor, Manila, officials revealed.
The NCR arm of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group were able to intercept and arrest a human trafficker identified as Marilyn Manigos, 42, of No. 62 Sikatuna Street in Parian, Cebu City.
The operations stemmed from a complaint filed by the mother of one of the victims, who informed authorities that her daughter was being brought to Manila onboard the Sulpicio Lines vessel Princess of the South which left Cebu at 9 p.m. on Thursday.
Officials coordinated with local authorities and waited for the suspect and her female companions at Pier 12 of the North Harbor.
The Journal identified the rescued women as: Rowena Morales,42, from Barangay Panay, South Cotabato; Saramie Borneo,23; from Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City; Babielou Rapal,27, also from Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City; and the two minors from Consulation, Casile, Sto. Niño 2, Cebu City.
