BI: 3 trafficking victims rescued at NAIA

Three female passengers were rescued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City on 25 September, after intercepting them on suspicion that they may be victims of human trafficking.

The Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Unit (I-Probes) said the three passengers were intercepted at the departure area of NAIA Terminal 1 while attempting to leave the country using allegedly spurious travel documents.

According to I-Probes, the passengers initially presented themselves as travelers bound for Vietnam but were found to be headed for Phnom Penh, Cambodia, based on their E-class Cambodian visas. Immigration officers also noted discrepancies and inconsistencies in their intended destination, length of stay, and other circumstances surrounding their trip.

The officers likewise found questionable and allegedly tampered documents, including bank certificates, certificates of employment, and business registration documents.

I-Probes said these circumstances led officers to suspect that the passengers may have been recruited for employment in Cambodia, where Filipinos have previously been rescued from trafficking and illegal recruitment schemes linked to online scam operations.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado warned Filipinos seeking employment abroad to exercise caution when offered jobs overseas, particularly those involving unusually high salaries or unclear employment arrangements.

“Do not be easily lured by promises of high-paying jobs abroad, especially when the circumstances surrounding the offer are unclear. There is a risk that you could end up like other Filipinos who have fallen victim to trafficking syndicates and suffered abusive working conditions,” Viado said.

The three passengers were subsequently turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further assessment, investigation, and appropriate action, including possible proceedings against their alleged local recruiters.