Taipei TimesFrom deer hides to semiconductors: Rethinking Taiwan’s economic miracleESPN DeportesAFA despide a Messi de la Selección Argentina con un sentido videoInquirerDuterte’s issues beyond SALN, now a national security concernDaily MaverickHOUSING DISPUTE: Court halts Gqeberha evictions as families resist move into vandalised units
KioskNews
The Daily Newsstand · Free, Always
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Language
Inquirer·Philippines·

Bad weather grounds flight carrying 51 trafficking victims to Manila

Translate

Leah D. Agonoy

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, Philippines — Bad weather on Tuesday grounded a military flight bound for Manila carrying 51 trafficking victims, including 49 Chinese nationals, one Cambodian and one Filipina, who were rescued during recent law enforcement raids on illegal offshore gaming operations in Zamboanga Sibugay.

The scheduled transfer, led by the National Bureau of Investigation, was postponed after bad weather prevented a Philippine Air Force aircraft from landing at the Pagadian City Airport.

The 51 individuals, along with physical evidence seized during the operations, were temporarily placed in the military custody in Zamboanga del Sur while awaiting a rescheduled flight on Wednesday.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: NBI arrests 3 for illegal recruitment, trafficking to Cambodia

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

Largest raid

They were among 259 people rounded up by law enforcement authorities on Oct. 2 during simultaneous raids in the towns of Alicia and Siay. Authorities described the operation as the largest raid on Philippine offshore gaming operators since the nationwide ban took effect two years ago.

READ: 10 trafficking victims working in scam hubs rescued in Cambodia

Maj. Noelio Brigole, spokesperson for the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said the consolidated figure of 259 was reached following joint verification by the NBI and Bureau of Immigration.

Brigole said the 51 individuals selected for immediate transport to Manila were identified as victims of human trafficking and forced labor.

Article continues after this advertisement

“The investigation is still ongoing through the NBI and the Bureau of Immigration,” Brigole said, adding that details about the remaining foreign and local individuals in Zamboanga Sibugay were being withheld pending verification.

Brigole clarified that the victims would undergo further verification and documentation by immigration officials upon arrival in Manila and would not be immediately deported to their home countries.

Article continues after this advertisement

The remaining individuals rounded up during the Alicia and Siay raids remained under NBI custody in Zamboanga Sibugay as the investigation continued. /cb

View the original on Inquirer →

KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.