(File photo)
MANILA – Immigration officers prevented two Africa-bound Filipino women suspected of being human trafficking victims from leaving the country at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Commissioner Norman Tansingco reported on Tuesday that the women were intercepted at NAIA Terminal 1 last March 7 as they were about to board their flight to Kuala Lumpur.
He said the passengers later confessed that they were merely transiting in Malaysia as their final destination is the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa.
The two women admitted that they were illegally hired to work as household workers by a Filipina who works as a “mayordoma” (female butler) for a rich couple in Congo.
“These victims were enticed by promises of big salaries, however by going through these illegal means, they are of higher risk for abuse and exploitation,” the BI chief said in a statement.
At the same time, he warned members of human trafficking syndicates that their trick of sending their victims abroad in the guise of being tourists will not work.
“Our officers at the airport are proficient in detecting this old scheme. So it is highly unlikely that they will pass our counters unnoticed,” he added.
Tansingco said they are duty-bound to prevent these individuals from leaving as the law prohibits Filipino migrant workers from going abroad without the required overseas employment permit from the government. (PNA)
