BI rescues 10 women bound for Singapore as “sex workers”
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the rescue of 10 females who attempted to depart illegally for Singapore as sex workers.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the 10 women, all aged 20s to early 30s, were intercepted on Friday afternoon after attempting to depart via a Cebu Pacific flight to Singapore.
“We received information earlier this month from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) that these women were being trafficked abroad and were recruited as entertainers, but will end up as sex workers,” said Tansingco.
He added that upon receipt of the information, the BI immediately included the group in its monitoring records to be able to intercept them.
Tansingco said after including the information from IACAT in the BI’s records, it also received information from the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros on the women, further validating the BI’s doubts on the actual purpose of the women’s travel.
The women claimed that they were traveling as tourists with friends. However, closer inspection of their records revealed valid working permits as entertainers in Singapore.
They were allegedly recruited separately online through Facebook messenger to work in a pub in Singapore. They were offered a salary of P40,000 per month, with deduction of their travel expenses for six months.
“This is a clear example of debt bondage – a tactic in trafficking – wherein they are made to pay the expenses for the recruitment,” said Tansingco. “These expenses pile up, and they end up being forced to work to pay their debt.”
Tansingco then hailed the role of coordination among different government agencies in the interception. “A multi-agency approach is needed in the fight against trafficking,” he said.
“Coordination with government agencies in gathering information and intercepting trafficking victims is necessary for us to be able to stop this illegal activity,” he added.
The victims were turned over to the IACAT for assistance in filing cases against their recruiters.
