The latest batch of repatriated Filipinos from Thailand and Myanmar reveal recruitment under the same modus.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Norman Tansingco shared that two batches of trafficked Filipinos were repatriated earlier this week after being rescued by Philippine authorities abroad.
Last May 29, a total of six Filipinos arrived on board a Philippine Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand. Composed of four males and two females, all in their 20s to early 30s, all were ‘young urban professionals’ coming from good backgrounds.
“The new face of victims now are really professionals with good jobs here in the country but seek adventure abroad,” said Tansingco. “Some of them are even traveling with their partners or claimed they will be visiting family, and have previous travels,” he shared.
Another batch of repatriated Filipinos arrived on May 30 from Myanmar on board a Philippine airlines flight. The victims were composed of two males and one female, all in their 20s. Two of them left as registered overseas Filipino workers, while one left as a tourist.
All of the victims left the country late last year or earlier this year.
Tansingco shared that apart from recruiting professionals in the country, the syndicates are also targeting Filipinos with expiring contracts based in the Middle East.
BI: Latest batch of repatriated Filipinos recruited under same modus
“These latest batch of victims show that traffickers are using the same modus to recruit young professionals to seemingly-good call center jobs abroad,” said Tansingco. “Only to find out that it is a scam,” he added.
The victims were assisted by agency members of the Inter-Agency Task Force Against Trafficking (IACAT)upon arrival.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) thanked the Australian government for donating forensic document examination equipment.
In a ceremony on Tuesday, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco expressed his appreciation for the token of friendship received from the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
“The government of Australia has long been a partner of the Bureau of Immigration in our mutual desire for a region safe from illegal cross border movement,” said Tansingco. “This equipment would definitely strengthen the Bureau’s capacity in detecting counterfeit documents being presented,” he added.
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