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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BI: Two trafficked Pinays drugged, forced to work as sex workers in Malaysia

BI: Two trafficked Pinays drugged, forced to work as sex workers in Malaysia

Published Jun 30, 2023 03:50 am
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has restated its firm advice and urged prospective Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to pursue legal avenues when seeking employment abroad while emphasizing the dangers associated with illegal recruitment.

*(Courtesy of Bureau of Immigration)

* Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued the strong warning following the repatriation of two Filipino women who were allegedly drugged and coerced into working as prostitutes in Malaysia. "We cannot emphasize enough the importance of following the proper channels through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Taking shortcuts may result in severe consequences, endangering the safety of our fellow Filipinos," stated Tansingco, the BI chief. Tansingco recounted the case of a 29-year-old Filipina who arrived back in the country on June 21 via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and shared her horrifying experience of sexual slavery. Another victim, who arrived on June 26 at NAIA, shared a similar tragic story. According to their testimonies, they individually connected with their recruiters on social media application Facebook with the promise of working as waitresses in restaurants for a monthly salary of P40,000. One of them revealed that her attempt to travel abroad was thwarted by immigration officers at NAIA last year, but this year she successfully went to Malaysia by boat from Zamboanga without any issues. Tansingco appealed to prospective overseas workers "not to be enticed by human predators promising greener pastures abroad, or else they may suffer the same fate as these two women." The names of the victims, in compliance with the anti-trafficking law, were withheld, and they were handed over to the Department of Justice Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance.

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Norman Tansingco Malaysia OFW Bureau of Immigration
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