Seven girls rescued from forced labor in Palawan

At least seven girls, three of them minors, were rescued from forced labor at a bar in Palawan province following a raid there over the weekend. Radio dzBB’s Palawan affiliate reported Monday the seven girls, aged 16 to 22, were brought to a shelter while their trip home to Las Piñas City in Metro Manila is being arranged. Three of the seven were found to be minors, one aged 16 and two aged 17. According to initial investigation, the seven girls were reportedly “recruited" to work at a bar in Barangay San Miguel in Puerto Princesa City and arrived there on July 5. However, once there, the girls were allegedly forced to keep working even though they have already been complaining of body pains from too much work. A police team, acting on a tip, raided the area on Saturday and rescued the seven girls. –VVP, GMANews.TV