Human trafficking victims intercepted
The victim admitted her trip was processed by her handlers, and that her documents were only given to her when she arrived at the airport
Three suspected victims of human trafficking were barred from leaving the country by Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
A report to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the passengers were intercepted just before they boarded their flights bound for the Middle East and Europe.
Grifton Medina, BI Port
Operation Division chief, said one of the victims was bound for Dubai, while the others were on their way to Greece.
Initial investigation found they all had intentions of working illegally abroad as undocumented workers.
“Thanks to the vigilance of our primary inspectors for foiling these attempts by human trafficking syndicates to sneak their victims out of the country,” Medina said.
The victims have already been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for investigation.
Ma. Timotea Barizo, BI Travel Control and Enforcement Unit head, said the Dubai-bound passenger was intercepted last 25 July 2020 after the Immigration officer noticed the submitted Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) was not cleared and validated by the Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration-Labor Assistance Center desk at the NAIA.
Upon verification, it was found the certificate was tampered as it was issued to someone else and not to the said passenger.
Later on, the victim admitted her trip was processed by her handlers, and that her documents were only given to her when she arrived at the airport.
Barizo also said the Greecebound passengers were intercepted on 02 August 2020, and they also presented fraudulent travel documents, including fake OEC and local employment certificates.
Upon interview, they confessed their documents were only handed to them at the airport, and they were recruited to work in Athens by their handlers to whom they each paid P95,000 to facilitate their trip and documents.
THIS lady, who is busy sending text messages while outdoors, will now have to do it at home with the enforcement of the modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.