The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is ramping up its campaign against human trafficking amid increased travel, cautioning the public about increasingly deceptive schemes targeting outbound Filipino passengers amid higher travel demand.
“As we enter 2025, our focus will be on modernization through technological advancements and legal reforms to simplify immigration processes and enhance overall efficiency,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said.
The agency’s modernization agenda for 2025 includes upgrading screening technologies, streamlining immigration procedures, and strengthening legal frameworks.
With the peak summer travel season underway, the BI remains resolute in its commitment to stay ahead of traffickers, sending a clear message that vigilance at the nation’s borders is paramount and the protection of Filipinos remains the agency’s top priority.
A recent case in April saw the interception of three women at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The individuals, aged 23, 25, and 50, falsely presented themselves as church missionaries bound for Thailand via Singapore. Their inconsistent accounts triggered scrutiny, leading the youngest woman to confess they were actually licensed teachers recruited for illegal employment in Thailand – a newly uncovered trafficking scheme exploiting religious pretenses.
The BI highlighted that this incident is indicative of broader trends, including the “bitbit” or tag-along method, where seasoned travelers act as conduits to smuggle victims out of the country under deceptive pretenses.
Often, those being trafficked are unaware of their situation until it is too late.
This warning is particularly pertinent given the projected surge in travel volume.
The Department of Tourism forecasts a significant rise in passenger movement this April and May, following nearly 1.2 million foreign tourist arrivals in the first two months of 2025 – a slight increase from the previous year.
In 2024, the BI processed over 14.5 million international arrivals, including 6.6 million foreign nationals, contributing P760 billion to tourism revenues.
However, authorities caution that this influx also elevates national security risks, particularly concerning foreign individuals using tourist visas for illicit activities.
In February alone, the BI deported 57 foreigners as part of the government’s intensified crackdown on illegal aliens, many linked to unauthorized Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities.
An additional 450 foreigners were apprehended in January.
These developments follow the 2024 U.S. Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which acknowledged the Philippine government’s identification of 890 confirmed trafficking victims and over 1,100 victims of unspecified exploitation. While the Philippines maintained its Tier 1 ranking, the report urged stronger victim identification, improved inter-agency coordination, and more robust law enforcement support.