By Recto Mercene, Business Mirror, 6 Feb 2020
Seven women allegedly attempting to leave the country using bogus travel documents were nabbed by immigration authorities, while they were about to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Dubai last Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Port Operations Division chief Grifton Medina said the passengers were barred from leaving after immigration officers found the documents they presented are bogus.
“Those syndicates behind these trafficked women must know there is no letup in our anti-trafficking campaign despite the coronavirus [2019-nCoV] outbreak. Our departure areas remain off limits to human traffickers and their victims,” he said.
The virus outbreak has prompted BI to implement stricter screening procedures for arriving and departing travelers as part of measures to combat the spread of the virus.
Ma. Timotea Barizo, BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit chief, the intercepted passengers were caught in possession of fake Philippine Overseas Employment Administration clearances.
Barizo said the passengers’ validation forms, purportedly showing that their papers were checked and cleared by Labor Assistance Center personnel at the airport, were also found to be counterfeits.
“They admitted during interview that the bogus documents were given to them by their handlers, and they were recruited via Facebook to work as domestic helpers in the United Arab Emirates,” Barizo added.
The women were eventually turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for investigation.
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
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
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
March 27: Earth Hour
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