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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BI to closely watch airports, seaports vs human trafficking activities during Holy Week

BI to closely watch airports, seaports vs human trafficking activities during Holy Week

Published Mar 26, 2026 03:08 pm
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday, March 26, assured that it will watch closely the country’s international airports and seaports against human trafficking activities that may take advantage of the influx of passengers this Holy Week.
“We’re expecting that,” said BI Deputy Spokesperson Melvin Mabulac during an interview on PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.
“‘Pag mga ganyang panahon talaga may mga cases na nag-aatempt sila (During such seasons there are instances that human trafficking will be attempted),” Mabulac pointed out.
He said the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) has been specifically created to closely scrutinize Filipinos who will be traveling abroad.
Also, he said the BI is also part of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) which has a task force which investigates trafficking cases referred by the bureau.
In anticipation of the influx of passengers during Holy Week, Mabulac said “may leave ban po tayo (frontline personnel are banned from taking leaves during this period).”
He said that Immigration Joel Anthony M. Viado has ordered the augmentation of personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“‘Yun pong ating mga tauhan na assigned po sa opisina some of them have been deployed here (Personnel assigned at the BI main office have been deployed at the NAIA),” he also said.
The NAIA has 24 unmanned electronic gates or e-gates that will speed up the processing of passengers.
Despite this, Mabulac advised departing passengers to arrive three hours early before their departure to avoid running late for their flights.

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