DoJ orders probe on recruitment scam

A GROUP of rogue Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) could be in cahoots with a Chinese-run syndicate involved in a cryptocurrency scam overseas.

“Very possible,” said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday as he answered a query on the possible involvement of unscrupulous personnel from the Bureau of Immigration.

Remulla has ordered Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco to look into the matter, which was exposed by Sen. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros in a privileged speech last November 21.

One of the victims presented by Hontiveros in a Senate hearing said that she and 11 others were recruited via Facebook where they saw advertisements of job openings for call center agents and encoders in Thailand.

The victim said after their arrival in Thailand, they were taken to Myanmar where they were allegedly made to work as scammers.

They were allegedly trained by “Western” men on how to lure victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency accounts.

Tansingco said that his office is closely coordinating with Hontiveros’ office in gathering more information to determine the possible collusion of some immigration officers assigned in airports to the alleged scam.

“We will be coordinating with the Office of Senator Hontiveros to seek further information about this case,” said Tansingco. “We are also interested to find out how these victims were able to depart despite stringent immigration assessment,” he added.

It was also Hontiveros who exposed the so-called pastillas scam which resulted in the dismissal of 18 officers and personnel of the BI.

The “pastillas scam” is a form of extortion victimizing Chinese nationals in exchange for their unhampered entry into the country. The victims ended up as illegal workers of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

Tansingco said he would leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of the possible involvement of immigration personnel.

“Ayoko ng pastillas. Ayokong ako pa mismo ang magposas sa empleyado natin na involved sa corruption (I will not tolerate involvement in issues like pastillas. I do not want to be the one to cuff any employee involved in corruption),” he warned.

It was gathered that as early as October, Tansingco issued an advisory to immigration inspectors to conduct a strict assessment of travelers departing for neighboring countries after receiving reports that Filipinos were being illegally recruited and transported to a third country to work as call center agents for a company that operates online scams such as catfishing.

“These human traffickers try to circumvent immigration assessment by adjusting their modus operandi,” said Tansingco.

“Oftentimes, syndicates provide fake employment documents and statements to their victims,” he added.

In 2021, despite the pandemic, the BI deferred the departure of 13,860 passengers for having improper documentation and foiled 688 attempts of human trafficking and illegal recruitment at the country’s international ports.

Tansingco shared that they are closely coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), as well as the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to update policies on trafficking and illegal recruitment.

He also warned prospective OFWs not to accept offers online and instead apply legally through the DMW.

Relative to the investigation, Tansingco also called on the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to investigate the rising cases of attempted trafficking involving fake entry passes.

The concern came after airport security and police intercepted three people who attempted to slip out of the country earlier this month. The victims reportedly used fake airport access passes and pretended to be employees of various airport concessionaires.

Tansingco raised the urgency of the concern after hearing that another victim was intercepted by airport authorities.

Tansingco added that previous victims might have used the employees’ entrance to evade strict departure assessment, to depart the country to illegally work in countries such as Myanmar.

“We are investigating several victims of a trafficking syndicate that entices our kababayans to work abroad as call center agents, only to be transported to a third country to work as online scammers,” said Tansingco.

“We are trying to see if these two cases are linked. This is already a big security issue, and we see the need to refer the matter for a thorough investigation, together with local law enforcement agencies and the MIAA,” he added.

In 2014, a similar incident occurred when BI officers intercepted four trafficking victims who attempted to enter using the employees’ entrance.

“This keeps on happening, and something must be done to stop this,” said Tansingco.

“We are implementing strict departure formalities, and must ensure that all departing passengers are inspected and assessed by our officers,” he added.

Best practices

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is, meanwhile, hoping that the United Nations will recognize the country’s achievements and “best practices” in eradicating online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC).

DFA Undersecretary for Multilateral and International Economic Affairs Carlos Sorreta made the remark during the courtesy call of Mama Fatima Singhateh, UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children.

He cited Republic Act 11930 punishing OSEC and the establishment of the National Coordination Center to combat OSEC as examples of government efforts to protect children.

Singhateh was visiting the Philippines until December 9 to observe and report on the country’s response against OSEC.

The DFA, in a statement, noted that Singhateh’s visit is the first official visit of a UN Special Rapporteur to the Philippines since 2015.

UN Special Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to study and address various human rights issues, as well as provide advice and support to UN member-states, it added.

This reflected the Philippine government’s continued constructive engagement and openness on human rights, the DFA said quoting Singhateh. She will meet officials from the Council for the Welfare of Children, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Justice, the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat, the Philippine National Police, and other relevant government agencies.

She will also meet with civil society representatives, private sector stakeholders, and children and their families. Besides Metro Manila, she will visit sites in Valenzuela City, Angeles City, Cotabato City and Cebu City.