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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 2 'illegal recruiters,' 6 'victims' arrested at NAIA

2 'illegal recruiters,' 6 'victims' arrested at NAIA

Published Mar 28, 2024 02:45 am

Two suspected illegal recruiters and their six companions have been arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) before they could board their flight to the Republic of Malta.

The Bureau of Immigration (BIR) withheld the names of the two female recruiters and their  victims -- five woman and a man.

After their arrest last March 2, they were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). 

The National Bureau of Investigation International Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID) with NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIA-TFAT) presented the two suspected illegal recruiters for inquest before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office for human  trafficking.

“Let this be a warning against human traffickers who dupe victims to agreeing to depart via illegal means,” Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said. 

“The entire IACAT force is persistent in locating, arresting, and jailing these types of criminals,” he declared.

In a statement, the BI said "the victims -- five females and one male -- initially claimed to be traveling abroad as tourists with two other female companions who they said was their churchmates."

It said that "immigration officers noted inconsistencies in their statements and subjected them to secondary inspection."

During secondary inspection, the BI said it was discovered “the six victims were actually bound for Malta after being recruited by the two female recruiters.”

“The victims paid P300,000 to P400,000 each to their recruiters in exchange for the processing of their applications,” it also said.

“It was also found that their passports have been tampered with and their visas chemically lifted to their passports as certified by the BI’s forensic documents laboratory,” the BI added. 

Related Tags

Bureau of Immigration
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