The latest interception last January 20, where three victims — aged 27, 25, and 42 — were stopped at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 while attempting to depart for Vietnam with their alleged employer.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the trafficker and his victims claimed to be traveling officemates bound for Vietnam as an incentive for their work.

During the interview, the victims revealed that, after their trip to Vietnam, they actually intended to work illegally in Bulgaria without proper documentation.

Further investigation showed that the trafficker enticed the victims by promising no fees or charges for the trip.

Sandoval said the tactic of promising no upfront fees or charges often leaves victims indebted to their recruiter, as their passports and salaries are often withheld.

This scheme of supposed salary deduction is actually debt bondage, a form of trafficking,” the BI added.

The victims have been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance, while the trafficker faces potential charges under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.

Meanwhile, Sandoval said the BI has obtained the details of the supposed Chinese spy that allegedly conducted espionage activities in Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites.

The BI said that upon verification with its records, it was able to extract the details of the suspect.

The unnamed Chinese man, 39, has travelled in and out of the Philippines since 2015 and is reportedly married to a Filipina. The BI shared the information with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to support the investigation against the subject.

Sandoval said the BI will be initiating deportation proceedings against him, to add to the other cases that will be filed against the man locally and clarified that it will not implement deportation until all local accountabilities and penalties have been resolved and served.

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