The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has announced the repatriation of 27 Vietnamese nationals who have been victims of human trafficking on Tuesday.
Based on the report to the BI, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIA-TFAT) referred the victims to the IACAT-Tahanan ng Inyong Pag-asa Center, following their interception at NAIA Terminal 2 last Oct. 31.
According to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the victims were accompanied by one Chinese handler, two Filipino drivers, and one Filipino translator. The traffickers had reportedly intended to sell the victims to a company based in Cebu City.
Of the 27 victims, 21 departed for Hanoi via a Cebu Pacific flight, while the remaining 6 departed for Ho Chi Minh City via a Philippine Airlines flight.
In response to this incident, the BI has canceled the working visas of the victims involved.
Tansingco then expressed his dismay towards foreign nationals who exploit the Philippines as a hub for their trafficking activities.
“We will not be a haven for those seeking to perpetuate such criminal acts,” he said. “The BI stands firm in its commitment to dismantle trafficking networks and safeguard the welfare of those vulnerable individuals,” the BI Chief added.
Seven more Vietnamese nationals remain in the country awaiting their repatriation.
4 suspects allegedly using cloned or fake credit cards arrested
The personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Quezon City arrested four suspects who were allegedly members of a syndicate involved in the copying or cloning of credit cards.
“Modus nila ay credit card tampering o credit card cloning. Itong ating mga sindikato ay umiikot sa mga junk shops, namimili sila ng used cards, o yung mga cards na tinapon, kinukuha nila, finaflaten hanggang sa maging blank card siya,” said NBI Cybercrime Division Chief Attorney Jeremy Lotoc.
“Imagine from the bank, yung mga for delivery na bank cards, during enroute, i-intercept ito ng sindikato. Pag nakuha nila yung legit na cards, ishi-shift ito, papalitan ng pekeng card. Yung dadalhin ng courier sa mga recipients ay yung cloned cards na,” he added.
The NBI seized fake IDs and products purchased using cloned cards.
Among the complaints filed against the four suspects is the violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Device Act, among others. One more suspect is being sought.
The NBI Cybercrime Division reminds the public to destroy the magnetic strips and chips of expired or unused cards so that their information cannot be obtained.
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