BI rescues 11 victims of human trafficking at Naia

by Faye Orellana, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 29, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities have rescued 11 suspected victims of human trafficking in separate incidents in Pasay City, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Wednesday.

BI Port Operations Division Chief Grifton Medina said the 11 victims were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in separate dates after airport personnel discovered that they have been illegally recruited to work abroad.

“All of them were bound for countries other than what they presented, in an apparent effort to mislead immigration officers about their destination and purpose of travel,” Medina said in a statement.

Medina added that the suspected victims of human trafficking pretended as tourists when departing from Manila.

On arrival at the next airport, their recruiters would then give them working visas and would instruct them to proceed to their final destinations via a connecting flight.

Anthony Lopez, head of the BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit said all the victims admitted that they intend to work abroad during investigation by airport personnel,

Lopez said the rescued victims were bound to Qatar, Malaysia, and Korea to work even without the proper work permits.

Lopez also noted that some of the victims were offered monthly salaries of P28,000 while admitting having their recruiters P20,000 for their assistance. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)