Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco warned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be vigilant when applying for jobs abroad.
The warning comes after the interception of two trafficking victims at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 last July 16. The two female victims, aged 42 and 30, were referred for secondary inspection after presenting fraudulently-acquired work documents.
A report from the BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) revealed that the two victims were told to pretend to be outbound seafarers by a local manning agency.
One of the victims admitted to paying Php 120,000 to a recruitment agency, which was sent via money transfer. They were then referred to a local manning agency to secure their documentation. Both were promised work as a cleaner and as a household service worker, and were given fake transit visas and seaman’s books.
“We have forwarded this case to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), who in the past have suspended and cancelled licenses of agencies doing such unscrupulous acts,” said Tansingco. “The victims’ desire to work abroad is being taken advantage of by these traffickers,” he added.
The victims were later assisted by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
BI arrests 2 Vietnamese nationals
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on July 17 arrested two Vietnamese nationals allegedly involved in cryptocurrency scam activities.
In a report to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr. said that the two were among those arrested by the Philippine National Police – Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) last May in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
They were said to be working in a crypto scam hub with trafficked employees, according to the PNP-ACG. The two were identified as Phan Thi Lien, 27 and Nguyen Sanh Huy, 28. They were subject of an immigration deportation case dated July 10.
“Cases were previously filed against them, but their physical custody remains with the arresting agency,” said Tansingco. “We were surprised to find them in our office, inquiring about the status of their case,” he added.
Tansingco said that a mission order was immediately issued to effect their arrest. The duo were immediately turned over to the BI’s Warden Facility in Bicutan, Taguig pending deportation.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.