THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has barred four Singapore-bound individuals from leaving the country, thwarting another attempt of syndicates engaged in human trafficking.
Ann Camille Mina, chief of the BI Travel Control and Enforcement Unit, said the four attempted to leave on March 1 via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) via a Jetstar Airlines flight to Singapore.
Mina said immigration personnel held the four after getting a tip from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
“We received intelligence information from the NBI and the IACAT NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking about the departure of the victims, that were said to be actually bound for Cambodia to work in offshore gaming operations,” Mina said.
“We were able to intercept their attempt and prevent them from being victimized abroad,” she added.
Mina said the four were escorted by a female recruiter traveling with her four-year-old child.
“During interview, the victims claimed that they were employees of a manpower agency, but (they) had numerous inconsistent statements. They eventually admitted that they paid their recruiter P10,000 each as down payment for their trip,” she said.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco renew his warning against job offers of illegal recruiters.
“These recruiters are crafty with their schemes, by using families with children as couriers. We have seen how victims have been exploited, and even physically abused abroad. Aspiring OFWs should not accept offers they receive via social media,” Tansingco said.
