by Katrina Hallare, 7 Nov 2019
MANILA, Philippines — Five people, who were believed to be victims of human trafficking, were rescued at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Thursday.
In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the victims were intercepted last Oct. 27 and Oct. 30 as they were about to board their flights for Hong Kong and Macau, en route to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The BI’s initial investigation showed that the five women were supposed to work as household service workers and waitresses.
All victims admitted having UAE visas, which were provided to them by their recruiters, the BI statement read.
Meanwhile, three of the five victims pointed to their recruiter, saying that she was the one who escorted them to the airport and briefed them about their flight. The alleged recruiter was not identified pursuant to Republic Act No. 10364 or The Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.
“She was turned over the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) which then filed a criminal complaint about human trafficking and illegal recruitment against her before the Cebu City prosecutor’s office,” BI MCIA Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) head Ma. Asuncion Palma-Gil said.
“We suspect that all these victims were recruited by the same syndicate and that the female suspect we arrested is involved in the perpetration of this trafficking scheme,” Palma-Gil added.
The interception of the five, the BI said, comes days apart after 17 people, who were also suspected victims of human trafficking, were intercepted in the same airport.
Similarly, the victims were supposed to board their flights bound for Hong Kong and Macau, en route to the UAE and Qatar. /muf
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
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Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
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