Human trafficking syndicates have devised a new scheme of sending Filipinos abroad by having them pose as church missionaries, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Monday, April 7.

This was disclosed by BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado following the arrest last April 1 of a suspected female illegal recruiter at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) where she and her two alleged human trafficking victims were intercepted after posing as church missionaries for their trip to Thailand.

“This case echoes the ‘Bitbit’ scheme, where a frequent traveler, acting as a courier, attempts to transport group of passengers under false pretenses, while victims are unknowingly coerced into illegal work,” said Viado.

He said that based on the travel records of the alleged illegal recruiter, she has travelled to Thailand before.

“A check of her records showed she had previously left with another group of passengers, whom she claimed were also her church companions, but had not returned to the Philippines,” the bureau said.

It said the three women were intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 3 before they could board their flight due to “discrepancies in their documents.”

During further questioning, the BI said “the two victims confessed they were not part of a missionary group but licensed teachers recruited for illegal employment at a school in Thailand.”

“The duo admitted they had been recruited by the woman they were traveling with, who claimed to be the founder and head preacher of their congregation,” it said.

“The victims also disclosed they have not yet been hired and were asked to prepare employment documents like their transcripts, in case the school decides to employ them,” it added.