The Bureau of Immigration said on Friday afternoon that Commissioner Norman Tansingco had ordered an investigation into the attempt by three trafficking victims to depart illegally at Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport on 6 November.

The victims consisted of two females and one male who attempted to board separate flights for Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

The BI chief said that they received a copy of a report that the three were intercepted by airport security guards and the Airport Police.

The trio reportedly used fake airport access passes to be able to enter the boarding gates.

The report stated that the victims presented identification cards showing that they were employees of various food establishments located inside the Pre-Departure Area at NAIA 3. However, upon closer inspection by airport security, it was found that the NAIA Access Pass was fake.

Using the fake passes, the victims attempted to evade immigration inspection by passing through the employees' entrance. Upon verification, the airport authorities also found t that their passports and boarding passes contained fake immigration stamps.

One of the victims admitted that they were actually bound for Lebanon to work there without the required documentation. This is a clear case of human trafficking, and is very alarming considering that they are trying to use these schemes to try to evade strict immigration inspection.