Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 3 intercepted a Korean man escorting five trafficking victims last May 17.
Names have been redacted in compliance with current anti-trafficking laws.
According to the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement (I-PROBES) headed by Bienvenido Castillo III, the Korean man, 34-years-old, attempted to depart with his victims to Armenia transiting through the United Arab Emirates.
Castillo said the victims initially claimed to be traveling to Armenia for a seminar, but later admitted to have been illegally recruited to work as customer service representatives and promised a salary of 267, 533 Armenian Dram or around PhP 40,000.
The Korean man admitted to be affiliated with a recruitment agency, but claimed he was just ‘helping out’ his friends.
A check of the Korean’s records show that he has previously sponsored another group of Filipinos allegedly for a seminar, but said Filipinos have not returned to this date.
The Korean man was found to have a permanent residence visa in the Philippines for being married to a Filipina.
All six passengers were turned over to the inter-agency council against trafficking for filing of appropriate charges against the escort and assistance for the 5 victims.
The I-PROBES has also recommended that the visa of the Korean man be revoked and immigration charges be filed against him.
