The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced Wednesday the arrest of two suspected human traffickers who allegedly attempted to facilitate the illegal departure of 13 Filipinos, mostly women, bound for employment in Japan.

BI commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado said the alleged illegal recruiters, a Filipina and a Japanese national, were apprehended by the National Bureau of Investigation International Airport Investigation-Division on Saturday, the day after immigration officers intercepted the group at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Friday.

The BI stated that the arrests align with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to protect prospective overseas Filipino workers from exploitation.

“As instructed by the President, this arrest demonstrates the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking’s commitment to safeguard Filipinos from trafficking syndicates,” Viado said. “As an inter-agency body, we are keeping an eye on abuse cases, including those that involve the deception of technical internship programs.”