11 rescued, 2 arrested in Cavite anti-trafficking raid on illegal cigarette factory

Police conducted an anti-human trafficking raid at a suspected illegal cigarette factory in Trece Martires City, Cavite, leading to the arrest of two men and the rescue of eleven workers.

The operation took place at the Amore Recreation and Leisure Park in Barangay Aguado, which had been converted into an unregistered cigarette manufacturing facility.

The rescued workers, primarily from Masbate and nearby provinces, were recruited to work at the illegal factory under questionable labor conditions.

Authorities arrested Tony Sia Lao and Erwin Torres Sy, while a third individual named in the search warrant was not present during the raid.

The raid was executed based on a search warrant for violations of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, issued by Executive Judge Angelina A. Mailom-Orendain of Regional RTC Branch 92 in Calamba City, Laguna.

The operation was a joint effort involving police, labor inspectors from the Department of Labor and Employment Region IV-A, and social welfare officers.

The PNP is investigating if labor laws were also violated and the arrested individuals and rescued workers will be brought to the Trece Martires City Police Station for documentation.