Operatives from the Taguig City Police rescued a minor victim of human trafficking and arrested a suspect in an anti-human trafficking operation on the evening of 26 March 2025.

The operation was conducted at approximately 10:20 p.m. inside a vape shop in Barangay North Signal, Taguig City.

Police identified the arrested suspect as alias Gilbert, 36, a resident of Barangay Calzada, Tipas, Taguig City. He was apprehended for allegedly violating Republic Act 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by RA 10364, also known as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

The victim, identified by the alias Isang, a high school student and Taguig City resident, was immediately rescued and placed under the care of the city’s social welfare personnel.

Operations were initiated following a report filed by the victim’s sister, alias Eurica, who discovered an online conversation detailing a transaction involving the minor being forced into sexual activities.

Eurica sought assistance from the barangay, which referred the case to the Women and Children Protection Desk on 20 March 2025. The WCPD subsequently organized an entrapment operation.

During the operation, police said the suspect allegedly attempted to facilitate the illegal act by introducing a 19-year-old male witness to a woman in exchange for a vape and a wristwatch.

The witness was then led to a room where the suspect and the minor were present. Authorities said the suspect instructed the witness to remove his clothes, at which point police operatives and city social workers intervened, rescuing the victim and arresting the suspect at the scene.

Police informed the suspect of his constitutional rights, but he chose to remain silent. He underwent medical and physical examination at the Taguig-Pateros Hospital.

All recovered evidence and documentation have been submitted to the appropriate authorities for the formal filing of charges. A case for violation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act is being prepared for inquest proceedings at the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office.