BI intercepts human trafficking victims

The BI chief added that the intercepted passengers only discovered the job opportunity through a Facebook posting

The Bureau of Immigration reported on Thursday that its personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 intercepted three individuals bound for Malaysia allegedly posing as trainees for a construction firm.

BI commissioner Norman Tansingco narrated that on 13 November, the passengers and their supposed employer attempted to board their flight via Cebu Pacific bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

During the primary inspection, the passengers initially declared themselves as operations managers, site supervisors and painter supervisors with five years of experience but due to inconsistent statements on the basic details of their trip, the immigration officer referred them for a secondary inspection.

Eventually, the passengers admitted that they did not personally know their supposed employer, revealing that their acquaintance began only this year.

The BI chief said that investigations showed that one passenger allegedly paid P60,000 to their recruiter who facilitated their departure to secure waiter jobs in Dubai and Malaysia and stated that a portion of the payment amounting to P10,000 was purportedly designated for membership in an organization with accredited chapters in Malaysia and Dubai.

He added that the intercepted passengers only discovered the job opportunity through a Facebook posting.

Tansingco then expressed his dismay as he highlighted the risks associated with unverified job postings on the Internet.

“The agency is reminding the public to follow proper procedures when seeking employment abroad. As our government continues to safeguard the welfare of all overseas Filipino workers, it also urges the public to verify job opportunities abroad through reputable channels and authorized agencies to avoid falling victim to deceptive schemes,” Tansingco said.

All three passengers, as well as their courier, were immediately turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further investigation and the filing of appropriate charges against the recruiters.