OFFICERS of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted two passengers attempting to depart for Dubai, United Arab Emirates transiting through Thailand last December 22.
The passengers, initially posing as friends from General Santos City on vacation, were revealed to be victims of human trafficking.
According to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, it was discovered during secondary inspection that the individuals did not know each other’s names and lacked return tickets to General Santos.
The victims then confessed to being recruited as household service workers in Dubai through Facebook, with no knowledge of their transit arrangements to the UAE.
According to Tansingco, an airport employee was seen escorting the victims to the immigration counters.
“Immigration supervisors promptly intervened, signaling that such actions were unauthorized and against protocol,” the BI commissioner said.
Tansingco emphasized that airport immigration areas are strictly off-limits to unauthorized personnel, especially those providing VIP treatment to trafficking victims.
The incident was promptly relayed to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation and filing of appropriate charges against the recruiters.
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