Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco reiterated his warning to all potential overseas Filipino workers not to accept illegitimate job offers on social media.

Tansingco made the warning following a report on the 8 January incident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, as provided by the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section.

The victim, a 27-year-old woman alias Ria, first stated that she was traveling to Taiwan for vacation. However-vigilant immigration agents found discrepancies in her file and forwarded her for further examination.

She was actually headed for Albania in southern Europe, where she was hired to work for an energy company, as discovered after a secondary examination.

Alias Ria later admitted that she was offered escorting services in exchange for P120,000. However, she haggled, and the amount was reportedly lowered to P80,000, including her flight tickets.

She added that upon her arrival at the airport, she met her supposed escort in one of the food establishments open to the public, and she was asked to pay an additional P67,000, which she hesitantly paid for.

The alleged escort introduced herself as an immigration employee and even asked for an additional P10,000, which Ria did not pay for.

When she was referred for a secondary inspection, she sent a message to her escort, who said that it was just part of the procedure.

“These recruiters will sweet talk you into giving your hard-earned money to them,” Tansingco said. “In many cases, they will promise you assistance, only to leave you hanging in the end,” he added.

Ria’s case was immediately referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, which vowed to run after her recruiters.