5 Filipinas rescued from Chinese trafficking ring

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine and Chinese authorities have rescued five Filipinas from a human trafficking syndicate, the foreign department said Monday.

The five were rescued November 25 after Philippine diplomats in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen informed local authorities that the five women were being kept in an apartment there, it said.

“During the raid, two Chinese nationals and one Filipina, said to be the wife of one of the Chinese, were found and apprehended,” a department statement said.

“The five (victims) were instructed to pack their belongings as quickly as possible.”

They were taken to a shelter and were expected to be repatriated soon.

A criminal complaint has been filed against the two Chinese nationals, while Chinese authorities decided not to pursue a case against the Filipina who was with them for lack of strong evidence, it said.

More than nine million Filipinos, or about a 10th of the country’s population are estimated to live and work abroad and their remittances help keep the economy afloat.

Many work as domestic helpers and laborers while others are duped into traveling abroad by illegal recruiters and end up being sold into prostitution, authorities have said.