ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 9 -- Authorities rescued 38 individuals, including four minors, and arrested three suspected illegal recruiters in an anti-human trafficking operation on Friday.

The Zamboanga City Maritime Police Station said Saturday the victims were rescued around 9:30 p.m. aboard the wooden-hulled ferry ML J-Sayang, docked at a private wharf in Barangay Baliwasan.

The vessel was reportedly bound for Taganak Island (Turtle Islands).

During the operation, three suspected recruiters were apprehended while attempting to blend in with the victims, a cunning tactic employed by trafficking syndicates.

The inter-agency Zamboanga City Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force (ZCSBATTF) said the victims, many of whom were lured by false pr...