'Illegally recruited' Pinay decides not to push travel abroad
Bothered by her own conscience, a Filipina decided not to proceed with her travel to Hongkong last Friday, Nov. 3, as she admitted to immigration officers she was illegally recuitted.
“Aamin po ako sayo. Papunta ako sa UAE pagkatapos kong mag-tour sa Hong Kong (I will now admit. I am going to the UAE (United Arab Emirates) after taking the tour in Hongkong),” the Filipina, whose was called "Nina," told members of the BI ‘s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES).
“Pero ayaw ko nang tumuloy kasi kinakabahan ako. Parang may kakaiba sa biyahe ko na ito (I don’t want to push through because I am getting nervous. There is something strange about this trip),” the immigration officers quoted her as saying during the questioning.
The BI, in a statement, said "Nina" was recruited by a Filipina she met on Facebook and was offered a monthly salary of P30,000. It did not mention how much "Nina" paid her Filipina recruiter.
It said "Nina's" case was endorsed to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) which provided her assistance and started an investigation against the recruiter.
“We are glad that our constant reminders are reaching our kababayan,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.
“Ultimately, the decision to protect oneself would come from the individual. Let us not put ourselves in danger by agreeing to departing through illegal means,” Tansingco said.