MANILA, Philippines – A court in Hong Kong is set to sentence 2 Filipino nationals found guilty of human trafficking in Hong Kong.

The Wan Chai District Court will sentence on March 22 a Filipino club owner and a staff guilty of trafficking 2 fellow Pinoys on March 22.

Reports said 2 Filipino victims were recruited by a relative to work as waitresses in Macau in June 2009.

Upon their arrival in Macau, the 2 were told that a job was waiting for them in Hong Kong. The victims travelled to Hong Kong only to be forced to work as entertainers/prostitutes in a club in Wan Chai.

Some Filipinos in Hong Kong rescued them after 2 days. Their case was brought to the attention of the Philippine consulate.

The victims filed a formal complaint with the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force, which resulted in the arrest of 9 Filipinos during a raid at the club where they worked.

The club owner and a staff were jailed for human trafficking, while the 7 Filipinos were deported to the Philippines.

Since the filing of the case, the victims remained in the custody of a Hong Kong-managed shelter house and closely monitored by the Philippine consulate and the Hong Kong police.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, a national government agency based in Manila, will provide the necessary assistance upon the arrival of the victims in the Philippines.