Nasipit, Agusan del Norte โ Four female minors were rescued from a suspected human trafficking attempt, which was foiled by Port Police Officers (PPOs) and social workers on May 22, 2025, at Nasipit Port.
The girls were intercepted during routine verification at the Port Integrated Passenger Access Control Center (IPACC), where security personnel flagged them for presenting only Community Tax Certificates and providing inconsistent statements about their ages. The minors were then referred to the Malasakit Help Desk (MHD) for further assessment.
It was confirmed that all four individuals were underage and had no familial relation to the adult male accompanying them, a 39-year-old man whom they referred to as โdaddy.โ
Preliminary investigation suggests that the minors were being recruited for employment in a bar, with expectations of engaging in sexual activities in exchange for money โ a clear indicator of trafficking for sexual exploitation.
LGU Nasipit Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) Officer III Amani U. Pedroza assessed the situation and took protective custody of the minors, citing the lack of proper travel documents and the immediate risk to their welfare. The girls were later turned over to a government-run shelter, the Home for the Girls in Butuan City, for continued intervention, psychosocial support, and temporary care.
The male suspect was arrested on-site by the Port Police on May 22 and is currently in custody. He is facing charges for violating Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended. A formal complaint was filed with the Provincial Prosecutorโs Office under NPS Docket No. XIII-02-INQ-25E-0926 on May 24.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity related to human trafficking. Tips may be reported anonymously through local law enforcement, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), or the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
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