4 human trafficking victims rescued by NBI

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced today the successful rescue of four victims of human trafficking and the recovery of illegal materials during a series of coordinated operations across Metro Manila and Rizal province.

On February 19, 2026, the NBI-Human Trafficking and Related Crimes Division (NBI-HTRAD) deployed three specialized teams to Valenzuela City, Angono, and Binangonan to execute search warrants and rescue operations targeting a trafficking and child exploitation network.

The mission successfully rescued four victims—three of whom are minors—who are now under the protective custody of the MSWD in Angono and Binangonan. Beyond these rescues, NBI agents in Valenzuela City seized electronic gadgets containing Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM). Preliminary investigations have already uncovered a disturbing foreign link, revealing that a Filipino facilitator had been supplying large volumes of this illegal material to a long-term partner in Germany.

The success of this operation serves as a powerful testament to the efficacy of modern inter-agency and public-private partnerships. 

The NBI’s HTRAD unit worked in seamless coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ) through the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and Cyber-TIP, which provided the necessary legal and administrative framework. Furthermore, the field expertise of non-government organizations Destiny Rescue Philippines and Exodus Philippines proved vital to the mission’s execution, while the participation of Local Government Units ensured immediate, compassionate aftercare for the rescued victims.