(PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday said it has intercepted 11 passengers in a Dubai, United Arab Emirates-bound flight for being possible victims of human trafficking.
The departure was prevented on June 21 at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
In a statement, the BI said the passengers' claim that they were going on a group tour appeared questionable.
"Christabel O. Cuizon, the Supervisor of MCIA TCEU, expressed doubt regarding the declared purpose of their travel, as some members of the group had previously been offloaded and were found in possession of employment visas," the BI said.
The said group was composed of seven women and four men, all of whom have reportedly acted suspiciously from the initial inspection.
Moreover, the BI insisted that although Dubai is a preferred destination for job seekers, Filipinos departing without legal employment procedures remain vulnerable.
"Instances of exploitation and abuse have been reported to Philippine authorities, particularly involving Filipinos who left the country without having their employment contracts scrutinized by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)," it said.
Immigration then opted to transfer the group of possible human trafficking victims to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Task Force in Cebu, after a subsequent investigation.
To date, the country maintains its Tier 1 Ranking in the United States Trafficking in Persons (TIP).
Tier 1, the highest among the three-tier ranks, means the Philippines “fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.”
The ranking was reported amid emerging records of scamming companies in Southeast Asia, of which numerous Filipino job seekers are victimized.
The BI earlier issued a warning against such scheme which lures Filipino nationals through online recruitment. (PNA)
