Two Filipinas who were found victims of human trafficking were intercepted at the Clark International Airport (CIA) in Pampanga before they could board their flight to Bangkok, Thailand last Dec. 28.
“The two passengers gave inconsistent statements thus were referred for secondary inspection by our alert immigration officers,” Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement issued on Tuesday, Jan. 2.
Tansingco said the two Filipinas, whose names were withheld, initially introduced themselves as tourists going to Thailand for a vacation.
“Further investigation uncovered that they possessed valid tourist visas for Dubai and were promised employment in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) without proper documentation from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW),” he said.
He also said that one of the passengers subsequently admitted she was offered to work as a cashier in Dubai with a salary of P22,000 and her travel expenses were to be deducted from her monthly earnings.
The other Filipina was found to have been offered a work as babysitter by her recruiter.
"Leaving the country without proper documentation and falling into the hands of traffickers can lead to exploitation, abuse, and a life of uncertainty,” Tansingco said.
“We urge all citizens to follow legal processes to ensure their safety and protection abroad," he also said.