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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BI chief alarmed over repeat trafficking victims

BI chief alarmed over repeat trafficking victims

Published May 8, 2026 02:33 pm

At A Glance

  • BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado raised the concern after immigration officers prevented two Filipinos from leaving the country after they were found to have been repatriated in 2025 following their earlier trafficking to Cambodia.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado on Friday, May 8, expressed alarm over cases of Filipinos who, despite previous victimization, still end up falling prey to human trafficking schemes.
Viado raised the concern after immigration officers prevented two Filipinos from leaving the country after they were found to have been repatriated in 2025 following their earlier trafficking to Cambodia.
“It is alarming that despite previous victimization, some individuals still fall into the same schemes,” Viado said.
“This highlights the persistent and evolving tactics of trafficking syndicates,” he added.
Viado urged the public to carefully scrutinize job offers abroad, warning that seemingly legitimate opportunities often lead to exploitation.
“These offers may seem legitimate, but they often lead to exploitation,” he said.
He assured that the bureau will continue strengthening border controls to protect Filipinos from trafficking threats.
BI records showed that the two victims—a 31-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman—were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on May 4 as they were about to board a flight to Indonesia.
The two initially posed as tourists but later admitted to immigration officers that they had been recruited for employment abroad.
Records also indicated that both had previously been repatriated in 2025 after being trafficked in 2024 and had left the country through illegal means en route to Cambodia.

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BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION BI COMMISSIONER JOEL ANTHONY VIADO HUMAN TRAFFICKING
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