Manila, Sept. 6 -- Authorities have foiled a human trafficking attempt as they rescued 13 victims and arrested two "facilitators" in law enforcement operations in Tawi-Tawi, the police said Saturday.

Lt. Col. Jeseryl Dela Cruz, chief of the police's 1st Special Operations Unit - Maritime Group, said the rescued victims consisted of six men and seven women, who were recruited from various parts of the country.

The victims were rescued while being transported to different areas in Bongao, the capital of Tawi-Tawi, on Friday afternoon, using tricycles and motorboats.

"The rescue was prompted by a report from the Municipal Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking and the National Bureau of Investigation about passengers suspected of bein...