7 illegal recruitment victims rescued in Tawi-Tawi

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  – Marines rescued seven Filipinos who claimed they escaped from illegal recruiters who promised them employment in Sabah, Malaysia, off Taganak, Tawi-Tawi on Thursday.

Personnel of the 6th Marine Company turned over the victims to the municipal health office for mandatory coronavirus disease 2019 screening.

The seven Filipinos, who were in a speedboat when they were intercepted while approaching a seaside village near the town proper, said they arrived in Malaysia on Feb. 26.

They said they paid placement fees to a certain Sitti Farhana and Hanji Jamahudin.

The 6th Marine Battalion said two of the victims are from Luzon.