BUREAU of Immigration (BI) officers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 intercepted a female trafficking victim last July 4.

The victim, a 49-year-old woman, was attempting to depart for Amsterdam via a China Eastern flight.

The immigration officer who processed the victim initially flagged her due to her previous attempt to travel to the Netherlands for employment. During secondary inspection, the victim claimed to be a businesswoman on vacation to Amsterdam. She presented various business documents in an attempt to support her claim.

During the subsequent interview, it was revealed that the victim had actually been recruited as a household service worker through Facebook. She disclosed that she had paid a total of P148,000 to a relative who arranged her tickets and provided her with counterfeit documents, falsely indicating that she was a businesswoman.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco stressed the need for continued vigilance in detecting cases of human trafficking. He emphasized, “Our immigration officers play a crucial role in preventing these illegal activities at our airports.

Meanwhile, immigration officers at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) intercepted 5 victims of human trafficking last July 8.

The victims, who were attempting to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Thailand under the pretense of being tourists, were later revealed to be bound for the United Arab Emirates.

The immigration officers became suspicious of the travelers’ intentions due to inconsistencies in their statements. They claimed to be traveling for a vacation, allegedly sponsored by a friend and a sibling of one of the travelers. However, upon further investigation during a secondary inspection, the victims admitted their true destination.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jun I. Legaspi