TACLOBAN CITY—A social welfare officer here said the two Chinese nationals and a Taiwanese, who owned a fish farm where human trafficking victims were rescued in a recent raid, were not off the hook as evidence against the foreigners was strong.

Carmela Bastes, social worker of the City Social and Development Office, said she was confident her office and nongovernment organizations fighting human trafficking had a strong case against Tse-Yu Tai, Taiwanese and manager of Star Mega Seahorse Corp., and couple Chi Chang Ho and Xi Ping Ho.

ADVERTISEMENT

The three foreigners operated several fish cages in Cabalitian Bay in the town of Sual, Pangasinan province.

Strong evidence

Bastes said she was surprised that the three foreigners were released “but as far as we are concerned, we have strong evidence against them.”

Statements made by the victims, four of them minors, would provide a strong piece of evidence against the foreigners, Bastes said.

The narration by the victims of their ordeal in the Sual fish farm “is enough for us to say we have a strong case,” she said.

Bastes said her office and groups supporting the campaign against human trafficking were getting sworn statements from 32 victims, all residents of the village of 96 in this city, which would be used to file human trafficking and child abuse cases against the foreigners.

Sworn statements

She said on Friday, social workers were to meet with the victims for their sworn statements and to file the criminal complaints at the city prosecutor’s office.

One of the victims, who asked not to be identified, said he and the other recruits would pursue criminal cases against the two Chinese and the Taiwanese.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It was an experience not worth reliving,” said the victim, a 33-year-old job seeker.

“By pursuing our complaint, not only will we achieve justice but teach a lesson,” he said.

The provincial prosecutor’s office of Pangasinan based in Lingayen dismissed the human trafficking and child abuse cases.

Read Next

EDITORS' PICK

MOST READ