Bureau of Immigration authorities at the Clark International Airport intercepted two passengers who were revealed to be victims of human trafficking bound for Bangkok, Thailand.
The individuals initially presented themselves as tourists traveling in a group via a Cebu Pacific flight.
“The passengers gave inconsistent statements thus were referred for secondary inspection by our alert immigration officers,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco disclosed.
Further investigation uncovered that they possessed valid tourist visas for Dubai and were promised employment in the UAE without proper documentation under the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
Tansingco expressing concern over the incident, stated, “This interception underscores the dangers of leaving the country undocumented and falling victim to human trafficking schemes. These individuals were lured with false promises of employment, only to find themselves at the mercy of traffickers with no legal protections.”
One of the passengers admitted her true intent to work as a Cashier in Dubai with a promised salary of 22,000 pesos, and her travel expenses were to be deducted from her monthly earnings.
The other passenger was destined to work as a babysitter for her recruiter.
Tansingco then emphasized the importance of legal channels for overseas employment.
“Leaving the country without proper documentation and falling into the hands of traffickers can lead to exploitation, abuse, and a life of uncertainty. We urge all citizens to follow legal processes, ensuring their safety and protection abroad.”
Both victims were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation.
Almost 50K arrivals during New Year’s Eve
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that its frontliners recorded almost 50 thousand arrivals during new year’s eve.
BI records show that 49,892 passengers arrived on December 31, 34% of which are foreign nationals.
Norman Tansingco, BI Commissioner, said that this shows that the country is regaining its momentum as a popular holiday destination for foreign nationals.
Several hotels and establishments in Metro Manila hosted new year countdowns which was attended by Filipinos and foreigners alike.
The BI shared that they processed a total of 1.6 million arriving passengers for the month of December, which is more than their initial projection of 1.5 million.
There were also no major concerns or issues reported during the BI’s operations this holiday season.
“Better public service is our gift for the holidays,” said Tansingco. “We are happy that our measures are working, and we vow to continuously improve our systems for 2024 and the years to come,” he added.
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