OFFICERS of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) successfully intercepted and rescued four Filipino women who were being trafficked to work as waitresses in China last April 21.
The women, whose identities are being protected in accordance with anti-trafficking laws, were apprehended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 after presenting themselves as tourists bound for Hong Kong.
According to the victims, they were lured into the scheme by a Taiwanese woman they met through WeChat. This individual promised them lucrative jobs as waitresses in China.
Investigations revealed that the victims were instructed to pose as tourists and are supposed to receive their visas for China upon arrival in Hong Kong, where they would then proceed to work illegally.
“These women were deceived into agreeing into the scheme to work abroad,” stated BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco. “But in reality, they were being trafficked for exploitation and illegal employment.”
“Human trafficking is a heinous crime that preys on the most vulnerable members of society. We will continue to work tirelessly to thwart these criminal activities and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Tansingco added.
The victims were turned over to the inter-agency council against trafficking for assistance, while the recruiter has been recommended for blacklisting.
