The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intercepted five victims of human traffickers before they can board their flight to Libya at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
In a report to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, BI travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU) officers said the victims showed papers that they were going to Thailand as tourists.
TCEU chief Ma. Remotea Barizon, however, said the victims gave inconsistent statements during secondary inspection. She added that it was uncovered later that the victims' actual itinerary flights from Thailand to United Arab Emirates and finally, to Libya.
The victims later admitted that they were recruited by a certain Julie whom they met through Facebook to work in a factory in Libya.
This prompted Morente to warn anew Filipinos desiring to go abroad to be wary about the sinister activities of recruiters whose only interest are to earn at the expense of our poor compatriots.
"Protect yourselves from scammers by getting work permit and clearance from the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency," the BI chief advised prospective Overseas Filipino Workers.