Immigration officers at the Zamboanga International Seaport (ZIS) rescued two Filipina victims of human trafficking last March 27.
In a report to Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco, BI Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) head Ann Camille Mina shared that the two victims, aged 43 and 40, attempted to depart to Sandakan, Sabah via MV Antonia I.
Both initially claimed that they were traveling for a vacation separately, but upon further inspection admitted that they were bound for Lebanon to work as household service workers.
The two flew from Manila to Zamboanga, where they were instructed to ride the vessel to Sandakan.
They stated that they were instructed to stay in Malaysia for one day while waiting for their visa, before they were to fly out to Lebanon.
“These traffickers are now attempting to use other ports to evade strict security checks, thinking we have no presence there,” said Tansingco. “As part of the IACAT, it is our duty to intercept such cases in order to protect our kababayans from harm,” he added.
The two were turned over to the Zamboanga Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance in filing cases against their recruiters.
BI to release immigration traffic updates during Holy Week
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that it will be posting ‘immigration traffic updates’ for its operations during the Holy Week.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco shared that they will be using the BI’s social media platforms to post photos of their operations to aid the traveling public.
“Similar to traffic reports on the roads, our updates will allow departing passengers to see if there is congestion so they can prepare for it,” he stated.
The BI said that they highly suggest that departing passengers check in at least 3 hours prior to their flight, and proceed directly to the immigration area for clearance.
If planning to enjoy the other facilities of the airport, particularly in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, the agency suggests that travelers arrive earlier to have ample time for departure clearance and other leisurely activities inside the terminal.
Tansingco earlier reported that they have fielded an additional 155 immigration officers at the NAIA and Clark International Airport to serve as augmentation team for the holy week.
He stated that he has ordered the BI’s airport terminal heads to ensure that all counters are fully-manned to serve the traveling public during the peak season.
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