OFFICIALS of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) renewed warnings against trafficking syndicates who prey on children, women, and overseas-bound workers in the Middle East and Gulf regions.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente aired the reminder following recent foreign news involving Indian women who were illegally trafficked and were rescued from inhumane conditions in Kuwait.

He said that the incident only proves that trafficking remains a “global issue” that must be addressed.

“It is important that we do not take the issue of human trafficking lightly. This modern-day slavery is still very rampant, and it is happening both here and in other parts of the world,” he added.

According to Morente, human traffickers usually lure their victims under the pretext of “lucrative” jobs overseas without securing legal documentation.

“As a result, those victims of human trafficking are led up to experience compensation issues, or worse – mental and physical abuse abroad,” the BI chief lamented.

BI Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) Head Timotea Barizo then reminded the public to remain vigilant against persons offering jobs in Middle Eastern countries where “high-paying” jobs are supposedly waiting for them.

“Aspiring OFWs [Overseas Filipino Workers] should practice caution and transact only with persons and agencies accredited by the government. If caught, those illegal recruiters and human traffickers are doomed to face imprisonment,” she said.

In 2021, the BI endorsed a total of 491 travelers to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) as possible victims of human trafficking.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jun I. Legaspi