Agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have intercepted six cryptocurrency trafficking victims who were supposed to go to Cambodia through the Clark International Airport (CIA) in Pampanga.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the incident has triggered a an investigation as four of its personnel were believed to be involved in the illegal activity.
In fact, he said one immigration officer was found to have cleared the passengers for departure.
"This immigration officer was relieved pending the result of the investigation. Three other immigration personnel were included in the investigation for possible involvement in this case," said Tansingco.
The six passengers were about to board a Jetstar flight to Phnom Penh last week when they were barred from leaving for the doubtful purpose of their travel.
“They gave inconsistent answers to questions during interview which raised suspicions that they were merely disguised as tourists but their purpose is to work abroad,” Tansingco said in a statement.
The passengers were already on their way to board their aircraft after being cleared at the immigration counter when they were accosted and invited for questioning by personnel from the BI’s travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU).
He added that the passengers pretended to be acquainted with each other but could not explain how or when they met.
BI TCEU chief Ann Camille Mina reported that aside from giving inconsistent statements, the passengers also presented fake return tickets.
“Eventually, they admitted that they will be working in a call center in Cambodia and were recruited through Facebook,” said Mina.
The operation is part of the government's crackdown against syndicates recruiting Filipinos to work as employees for cryptocurrency scam syndicates operating in Southeast Asia.