BI intercepts 3 would-be trafficking victims at Naia

by Katrina Hallare, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 22, 2019

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently intercepted three would-be Filipina trafficking victims bound for Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

BI port operations division chief Grifton Medina said that the three Filipinas were intercepted on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 by members of the bureau’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU).

The three women presented valid UAE visas and job contracts.

Their overseas employment certificates, however, turned out to be fake, as verified by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) personnel at the airport.

Medina said that while the three Filipinas’ job contracts showed they were hired as kitchen staff, waitress and sales assistant, they were actually flying to Dubai to work as domestic helpers.

“This upgrading of work is another scheme by illegal recruiters. Their victims are made to appear that they were recruited for high paying jobs when, in fact, they would be getting meager salaries, often even lower than what household service workers receive,” Medina said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Victims would agree in exchange for a promise of quick processing of their work papers,” Medina added.

BI –Naia 3 TCEU head Anthony Lopez said that the three women, when asked, could not identify the manpower agency that recruited them.

“The two of them admitted that they applied for their jobs via Facebook while the other one could not say how she was introduced to or recruited by her handlers,” Lopez said.

The three were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation and assistance.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente urged Filipinos who want to work overseas to transact only with licensed recruitment agencies, and refrain from accepting offers online without verifying the recruiter.

“These syndicates are experts in the art of deception, and will sweet-talk you to believe their lies,” Morente said.

“Always check and double check with the POEA for the legitimacy of job offers you get.” (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)