Courtesy of NBI-IOD/screengrab
A FORMER beauty queen and five Russian women were rescued on Thursday following a human trafficking operation carried out by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at a luxury hotel in Makati City.
The operation, conducted by the NBI International Operations Division in the early hours of the morning, also led to the arrest of a male talent manager who owns a well‑known modeling agency. The rescue and apprehension followed verified intelligence indicating that the women — including pageant titleholders, artists, and models — were being exploited for commercial sex.
Investigators established that the victims were allegedly being offered for sexual services at various hourly and overnight rates. The syndicate’s scheme also involved arranging both local and international travel under the guise of companionship services, effectively masking the true nature of the exploitation.
The NBI launched an entrapment operation in which an undercover agent arranged to book the women as offered by the suspect. According to authorities, the suspect agreed to provide the women at a discounted rate of ₱25,000 each, on top of additional commission fees.
The operation highlights how criminal networks exploit the modeling and entertainment industries as fronts for trafficking, targeting vulnerable women under the pretense of legitimate work. The NBI has not yet disclosed the identities of the rescued victims or the arrested suspect, citing ongoing investigations and the need to protect the safety and privacy of those affected. Charges for human trafficking are being prepared against the suspect, while the rescued women are receiving assistance and care from authorities.
metrosundaily
