Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport recently stopped seven Filipinas from flying to the United Arab Emirates on strong suspicion that they were victims of human traffickers.
In a report to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, the bureau's travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU) said the women posed as first-time overseas workers to work as caregivers or sales agents.
"Verification showed they were either not on the records of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration or their travel papers presented were issued to other individuals," said TCEU chief Ma. Timotea Bariso said.
She added that their UAE visas indicated that they are travelling as tourists.
The incident prompted Morente to reiterate his warnings to prospective overseas workers not deal with unlicensed labor recruiters.
Like in previous cases, the women told Immigration officials that they met their recruiters via social media and their papers given to them shortly before their scheduled flights.
They were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for assistance and further investigation.