Woman arrested at NAIA for 'attempt' to traffic 3 Filipinos abroad – BI
A woman has been arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for attempted human trafficking.
The arrested woman, who was identified as “Rosa,” was about to board her flight to Malaysia in the company of her four-year-old child and three Filipinos when intercepted by immigration officers last Aug. 26, the BI said.
The incident involving “Rosa” was disclosed by the BI as a “bitbit” (carry) scheme whereby legitimate passengers accompany other unqualified travelers for international trip.
“What is disheartening about this case is that the woman even used her four-year-old son to make the travel seem legitimate,” lamented Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.
While the woman and her companions claimed that they were travelling to Malaysia for a vacation, “the three companions admitted to be actually traveling to Cambodia where they have been recruited as customer service representatives,” the BI said.
“They admitted having found the job offer online, with their travel having been facilitated by ‘Rosa,’ it added.
The BI said that “Rosa” has been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation and filing of charges if warranted.