MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) rescued two women from a human trafficking syndicate in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

In a statement, the NBI said the operation was carried out last August 12 by its Dagupan District Office (NBI-DADO) under the leadership of NBI Director Judge Jaime B. Santiago (Ret.), with assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The case was referred to the NBI by a non-profit group after the victims’ relatives reported receiving distress messages. Initial investigation showed the victims and 12 other women were recruited online to work as waitresses at Mahogany KTV Bar in Agoo, La Union, with the promise of a ₱20,000 monthly salary. Instead, they were allegedly coerced to work as entertainers and offered for sexual services to customers.

The victims said they were later transferred to 178 KTV Bar in Urdaneta City, where they were threatened with being shot if they tried to escape. They also disclosed being forced to sign documents acknowledging debts to the establishment, despite not receiving any money.

NBI-DADO agents, together with DSWD personnel and the victims’ relatives, conducted the rescue and turned the two women over to the DSWD for proper care.

Santiago commended the agents and vowed that the NBI will continue pursuing the recruiters, bar owners, and operators. “The Bureau will continue to locate and rescue the other female victims and will investigate on the recruiters and the KTV Bar owners and operators for the filing of appropriate charges against them,” he said.