Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Criminal raps filed vs BI officer

These criminal charges against erring BI officers tell the public that we will not let anything slide.

- BY LADE JEAN KABAGANI @tribunephl_Lade

The filing of criminal charges against a female immigratio­n officer who allegedly facilitate­d the flight of trafficked individual­s to Cambodia is a “crucial step” toward ending the widespread human traffickin­g of Filipinos.

This was according to Senator Risa Hontiveros as she welcomed the move of the National Bureau of Investigat­ion to file criminal charges against the immigratio­n personnel.

“Our Senate Committee on Women has long revealed that Chinese crypto scam syndicates want an all-Filipino team for their criminal operations, and we simply cannot allow this,” Hontiveros said in a statement on Saturday.

“These criminal charges against erring BI officers tell the public that we will not let anything slide. Mananagot kahit empleyado ng gobyerno (Even a government worker can be held liable),” she added.

Hontiveros earlier slammed the departure of six suspected human traffickin­g incidents going to Cambodia, which was processed by an immigratio­n officer in January this year.

The same officer also facilitate­d the flight of three more victims from Cambodia to Manila in February.

Hontiveros feted the NBI for working hard to put an end to illegal recruitmen­t of human traffickin­g in the country.

“Nagpapasal­amat din ako sa mga witness, mga victim-survivors ng crypto human traffickin­g sa Cambodia, na naglakas loob makipag-ugnayan sa opisina ko at nagsiwalat ng kanilang kwento (I am also thankful to the witnesses, victim-survivors of human crypto traffickin­g in Cambodia, who dared to contact my office and reveal their stories),” Hontiveros said as she acknowledg­ed that their testimonie­s have been a key to the filing of the criminal raps.

 ?? PHOTOGRAPH BY JASPER JAY DAWANG FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE ?? STUDENTS and townsfolks gathered on the streets of Banna, Ilocos Norte Friday, 24 March to witness the streetdanc­e competitio­n that showcased talents, culture and heritage. The Dance Showdown went on afterwards in the evening. It is an interpreta­tive dance competitio­n that shows the process of collecting weaver eggs and cooking them accompanie­d with a little story to begin with.
PHOTOGRAPH BY JASPER JAY DAWANG FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE STUDENTS and townsfolks gathered on the streets of Banna, Ilocos Norte Friday, 24 March to witness the streetdanc­e competitio­n that showcased talents, culture and heritage. The Dance Showdown went on afterwards in the evening. It is an interpreta­tive dance competitio­n that shows the process of collecting weaver eggs and cooking them accompanie­d with a little story to begin with.

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