The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that it has successfully intercepted an alleged illegal recruiter and her two female companions believed to be her victims at the Clark International Airport (CIA) in Pampanga earlier this week.
(File photo)
In a report submitted to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the BI's travel control and enforcement unit said the three passengers initially claimed to be tourists heading to Hong Kong via Cebu Pacific Airlines.
The two victims, whose identities were withheld in compliance with anti-trafficking laws, stated that they were working as nannies for their travel companion, a 60-year-old woman named "Pauline," who was accompanied by two minor children.
However, during separate interviews, it was revealed that the victims were actually bound for the United Arab Emirates to work as household service workers, with a promised salary of 1600 Dirhams.
They admitted to discovering the recruitment opportunity through Facebook and were instructed to travel alongside "Pauline" and her children, pretending to be her employees.
To facilitate further investigation, the two victims and their suspected recruiter were handed over to the CIA Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).