Public warned vs human traffickers

The Bureau of Immigration on Tuesday warned the public against traffickers recruiting Filipinos to work in China without the appropriate overseas employment visas.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued the warning upon learning of the arrival of five Filipinos who were repatriated from China. 

According to Tansingco, the passengers, who recently arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, were arrested and detained by Chinese immigration authorities for illegally working in the said country.

On 20 October, three of them arrived in the country via an Air Asia flight, while the other two did so the next day via a China Southern Airlines flight. Both flights originated in the Chinese province of Guangzhou.

During interviews conducted by members of the Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section, the victims recounted how they were enticed by their recruiters to travel and work in China without securing the required overseas work permits from the government.

They said they were able to land various jobs, such as hotel housekeeper, caretaker, private tutor, and household service workers.

Some of them recalled switching from one employer to another, even though they admitted that they were illegally working in China and could be apprehended anytime by the authorities.

One of the female victims recounted how she was made to pose as a nanny by her recruiter to facilitate her departure. Said recruiter traveled with her family, and she was made to pretend to be domestically working for them. She shared how she was overworked and not properly compensated upon arrival in China. She ended up being imprisoned for 70 days after being arrested by Chinese authorities.