The Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed that there is an ongoing investigation into the alleged human trafficking of Filipina minors to Syria using the so-called “baklas passport” scheme.
It first surfaced in the Senate hearing recently that there were 14-year-old Filipina girls from Mindanao who were sent to Syria using fake passports.
Senator Risa Hontiveros presented video clips in which 3 girls recounted their experience of how to get to Damascus, Syria through a “baklas passport.”
In modus, the age and appearance of the underage girls are changed to make them look older in the document.
Based on the story of the Filipina victims of trafficking, one of them came from Cotabato and two were recruited from Maguindanao.
According to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is already investigating.
“The alleged trafficking of women to Syria is already being investigated by the BI board of discipline. Their fact-finding reports will be submitted to the DOJ for review and initiation of formal administrative disciplinary proceedings, if found warranted,” said Guevarra.
The secretary added that only this Monday, they received the results of the BI’s initial report in this regard.
Human trafficking of Filipina minors in Syria under investigation
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is now difficult to forge electronic passports and biometrics.
However, illegal recruiters have a new style.
“Ginagawa ng illegal recruiters pumupunta sila sa munisipyo at nagpapa-late registration… Pag in-accept ng municipal civil registry papasok na sa Philippine Statistics Authrority ang record,” said DFA-Office of Migrant Workers Affairs executive director Iric Arribas.
A multi-agency task force has been formed to tighten the late registration and correction of data.
Last week, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned the public against the activities of syndicates engaged in trafficking minors and underage females who are recruited to work abroad.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the warning after officers at the international airports in Pampanga and Manila intercepted two overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) that presented falsified travel documents to appear older and be able to work abroad.
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