The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the interception of another trafficking victim at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that the interception occurred last October 27 at the NAIA Terminal 3.
The 46-year-old female victim, whose identity is withheld in compliance with anti-trafficking laws, was supposed to board an AirAsia flight to Macau but was intercepted at the BI’s primary inspection counter.
The victim initially presented herself as a former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) traveling to Macau for leisure as a tourist.
However, she later admitted that she intended to work in Macau again without the proper documentation.
The victim revealed that she was promised easy immigration and document assistance through Facebook, unaware that it involved affixing a fake departure stamp on her passport.
The traffickers reportedly charged a fee of P40,000 for the supposed escorting services, which turned out to be a scam.
The BI’s forensic documents laboratory confirmed that the stamp presented was indeed counterfeit.
Viado expressed his concern and urged aspiring overseas workers to be wary of fraudulent immigration assistance promising quick solutions.
“It’s alarming to observe that this scheme remains widespread. While these offers might seem enticing to unsuspecting victims, any assurance of success with minimal effort should raise immediate red flags,” he added.
The victim has been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance in filing cases against her recruiters.
