2 Filipina ‘tourists’ trafficked to work in Malaysia intercepted at NAIA

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IMMIGRATION officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have rescued two Filipino women trafficked to work as cleaners in Malaysia.

Bureau of Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) chief Mary Jane Hizon said the two were intercepted by immigration officers at the NAIA Terminal 3 on January 27 before they could board their flight.

“The duo attempted to travel to Malaysia disguised as regular tourists when they were flagged by officers. During an interview, the two admitted that they were actually bound for Malaysia after being recruited by a woman they knew as ‘Madame’ to work as cleaners in a hotel,” Hizon said in an incident report to BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

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“Their recruiter allegedly advised them to work as tourists while they are applying for work visas in the said country,” she added.

Viado said the “tourist worker scheme” is often abused by recruiters, tricking Filipinos into agreeing to such set-ups.

Under the scheme, Viado said the victim is made to work under a tourist visa but ends up unable to secure work visas.

“This places them in a vulnerable position, and their employers are able to make them agree to otherwise unacceptable conditions,” he said, as he warned aspiring overseas workers not to fall prey to such schemes.

The victims were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for the filing of cases against their recruiters whom Hizon and Viado did not identify while operations were ongoing to arrest them. – With Osias Osorio

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