Immigration officers barred seven “Filipino tourists” from boarding their aircraft at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport who were found to be undocumented overseas Filipino workers.
BI Port Operations acting chief, Grifton Medina said the seven passengers were not allowed to leave after they admitted under questioning that they are not tourists but are actually going abroad to work.
They were barred from leaving after the BI officers noticed that the victims were traveling with a woman who is in the bureau’s alert list of suspected human traffickers facilitating the deployment of undocumented workers abroad.
They also presented questionable documents regarding the purpose of their travel.
They initially claimed they were attending a symposium but later admitted during the interview that they were hired to work as maids in Malta.
The seven gave P500,000 to their handler in return for processing their travel documents and visas.
All seven passengers were turned over to the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking in Person for further investigation.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente reiterated his warning to those who intend to work overseas not to evade the travel requirements for OFWs by pretending to be tourists as “there is very little chance you will not be caught by our vigilant immigration officers at the airports.”