THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has advised prospective overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) to be vigilant when applying for jobs abroad.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued the advisory following the interception of two suspected trafficking victims at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2.
The victims, both females aged 42 and 30, were referred for secondary inspection after presenting fraudulently-acquired work documents.
A report from the BI’s travel control and enforcement unit revealed that the victims were told to pretend to be outbound seafarers by a local manning agency.
One of the victims admitted to paying P120,000 to a recruitment agency, which was sent via money transfer. They were then referred to a local manning agency to secure their documentation.
Both were promised work as a cleaner and as a household service worker, and were given fake transit visas and seaman’s books.