The Philippine National Police (PNP) rescued 11 workers—among them a 17-year-old boy—who were allegedly forced to work under exploitative conditions at a counterfeit cigarette factory in Trece Martires City, Cavite, early Friday morning, Oct. 31.
Acting PNP Chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said nine of the rescued individuals were from Masbate, while one hailed from Pangasinan and another from Leyte.
The operation, led by the Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A), took place around 6 a.m. at a facility located within a defunct recreation and leisure park in Barangay Aguado.
Authorities arrested two suspects identified as Tony Sia Lao of Masbate City and Erwin Torres Sy of Pasay City.
Police said the duo’s modus involved recruiting workers from impoverished communities in the Visayas and Mindanao to labor in the illicit factory.
The operation was covered by a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Angelina A. Mailom-Orendain of RTC Branch 92, Calamba City, Laguna for violation of Republic Act No. 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.
Investigation is ongoing to determine if there were also labor laws violated, Nartatez noted.
Nartatez lauded the operating units that worked hard for the success of the operation, from the intelligence-gathering to the actual operation.
The operation was held in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment in Region 4A (DOLE 4A), City Social Welfare and Development Office of Trece Martires City, and representatives from Philip Morris Manufacturing Philippines Inc.
The arrested suspects and rescued victims were brought to the Trece Martires City Police Station for documentation and further investigation. (Martin Sadongdong)
