A fish trader and his recruiter are facing charges of human trafficking after they allegedly forced 78 fishermen from Bohol and Cebu to work without pay. Ramil Noval and Yulo “Boy” Plecerda, both from Lapu-Lapu City, were accused of violating the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 (Republic Act 10364) particularly its provision against “forced labor and slavery.” The complaints were filed at the Lapu-Lapu City prosecutor’s office on Thursday based on affidavits executed by the fishermen, who were rescued on Tuesday in Palawan, said Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas, an official of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.

Mayol, A. V. S. (2015, January 23). Fishermen enslaved in Palawan rescued. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A13.