The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 7—Central Visayas (DSWD 7) joined the operation conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Military Intelligence Group 7, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), and Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at the Tourist Garden Hotel in Barangay Agus in Lapu-Lapu City.

The joint force rescued 10 Filipino women and a minor and turned them over to DSWD 7 for processing and profiling.

“As the co-chair of IACAT 7, DSWD ensures the protection of women and children during rescue operations and that their rights are not violated,” emphasized Shalaine Marie S. Lucero, regional director for DSWD 7.

She added that DSWD would provide rescued Filipino citizens with temporary shelter, psychosocial support and counseling, medical and other services, and referral to concerned agencies for other appropriate interventions.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will provide the necessary services needed by rescued foreign nationals.

The IACAT 7 is a council in Central Visayas created to combat human trafficking (including online sexual abuse or exploitation of children). ###

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