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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BI intercepts 7 Pinay trafficking victims bound for Iraq

BI intercepts 7 Pinay trafficking victims bound for Iraq

Published Feb 11, 2023 04:46 pm

Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have intercepted seven women, believed to be human trafficking victims, who were all bound for Iraq and posing as tourists.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the passengers were disallowed to board a Scoot Airways flight to Singapore when immigration officers noted conflicting statements on the purpose of their trip.

However, the passengers admitted during subsequent interviews that their final destination is Erbil, Iraq where they were hired to work as janitresses with a monthly pay of US$1,000.

They said the clandestine trip was arranged by a Manila travel agency which had already sent 30 Filipinos to that war-torn country

The government has long banned deployment Filipino workers to Iraq due to the on-going civil war there.

The victims were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation and filing of charges against their recruiters.

Their names were not divulged as the law prohibits the public disclosure of human trafficking victims.

Related Tags

Human Trafficiking Iraq bureau of immigration
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