ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Police authorities last week rescued from human trafficking at least six females, including five minors, in a karaoke bar in a town in Zamboanga del Sur.
Police Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, public information chief of Police Regional Office 9, said the victims were rescued by the combined police operatives of Siay and Pitogo towns and social welfare development personnel in the karaoke house owned by a certain Gloria Pacatang alias Nining and Sita Mandano in Pitogo town.
Samuddin the said the rescued victims were aged 16 to 20 and came from Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, and nearby towns of Siay and Pitogo.
Police investigation disclosed that the victims were reportedly recruited without the parents’ consent and worked in a karaoke bar.
The rescued victims were provided stress debriefing by the social welfare office before they were turned over to their respective families.