NBI apprehends human trafficker

Intensified airport border monitoring led to the arrest of a suspected human trafficker by the National Bureau of Investigation-International Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID), the NBI said Thursday.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago identified the arrested suspect as Priscilla Sunga Tabilog, who was apprehended at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City for alleged violations of Republic Act 8042 (Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995) as amended by RA 10022; R.A. No. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) as amended by R.A. 11862 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022).

The case stemmed from a referral by the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking-Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

The task force endorsed three Filipinos — two potential victims and Tabilog — who were scheduled to depart for Thailand on Scoot Flight No. TR 397 for what was described as missionary activities.

They presented documents from the Alliance of Bishops, Ministers, and Educators International Inc., an organization founded by Tabilog, who also serves as its president.

Investigation revealed that the two potential victims were posing as missionary volunteers traveling with Tabilog to Thailand. They later disclosed that they had actually been promised teaching jobs in Thailand, and that Tabilog had facilitated their travel.

Verification with the Department of Migrant Workers confirmed through certification that Tabilog is not licensed or authorized to recruit workers for overseas deployment.

Tabilog was arrested, informed of her constitutional rights, and presented for online inquest proceedings.

Santiago commended the NBI-IAID agents for the arrest and advised the public to verify the legitimacy of recruitment agencies before applying for jobs abroad.