THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has taken custody of eight human trafficking victims rescued on Wednesday by the National Bureau of Investigation in San Antonio, Zambales.
THE DSWD reported taking custody of 10 minors who were also rescued in anti-human trafficking operations in Iligan City last May 7 and 9.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said social workers are currently extending assistance to the victims, three of who are minors who suffered sexual abuse by their captors.
“After the rescue operation, our social workers immediately secured the victim-survivors and attested to their sworn statements,” Dumlao said.
“We will also conduct psychosocial counselling sessions to help them recover from the traumatic incident,” he added.
Dumlao said young victims will be endorsed to a DSWD partner-non-government organization (NGO) for temporary care, while the five others will be reunited with their respective families.
Dumlao reminded the public to report cases of human trafficking to law enforcement agencies.
“The DSWD, as the co-chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), strongly condemns acts of trafficking in person. We appeal to the public to help the government to prevent this type of crime by reporting human trafficking and sexual exploitation cases to our law enforcers,” Dumlao said.
The public may also report cases of human trafficking to the Trafficking in Persons Helpline 1343 Action Line.
