Two days after Mother's Day, a lady was apprehended at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on allegations of selling her own daughter to a Chinese national as a mail-order bride.

On 13 May, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported that a mother-daughter duo attempting to depart the country via a Philippine Airlines flight bound for China was stopped by the Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES).

BI-NAIA officials identified the two female passengers as Annie, 42, and her daughter, Mia — both not their real names. During a secondary inspection, the daughter said they were traveling abroad to join her purported husband, a Chinese citizen. However, she presented a fraudulent marriage certificate to support her claims.

Further inquiry revealed that the alias Mia acknowledged that her mother had arranged the marriage and that she was unaware she was to get married. She also claimed that after the purported wedding, she was given P5,000 and that the man was introduced to her on 11 March. They promised her that their family would benefit monetarily from the marriage.

"This case highlights the alarming reality of human trafficking under the pretense of arranged or mail-order marriages. We will not permit the exploitation of our kababayans, particularly young ladies, under false pretenses. These behaviors are cruel in addition to being against the law," BI Commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado stated.

Additionally, Atty. Viado reiterated the Bureau's dedication to the administration's robust anti-human trafficking posture, stating, "Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we continue to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and intensify border security to protect vulnerable Filipinos from exploitation and abuse."

The BI chief further stated that in order to make sure that offenders are held responsible and victims are given the assistance they need, the BI is collaborating closely with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and other partners.

The two passengers who were intercepted were handed over right away to the IACAT for further investigation and assistance.