A 21-year-old Filipino woman, believed to be a victim of a mail-order bride scheme, was intercepted by immigration authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) before she could depart for Guangzhou, China. The incident highlights the ongoing efforts by the Philippine government to combat human trafficking.
The woman was stopped on March 10 at NAIA Terminal 3 as she attempted to board a Cebu Pacific flight. Immigration officers from the Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) flagged her during secondary inspection. Initially, she claimed to be traveling to China for language studies and presented documents indicating enrollment at a vocational college in Guangdong province.
However, inconsistencies between her statements and the presented documents raised suspicions. Under further questioning, the woman confessed that her trip was not for studies. Instead, she admitted that she was being sent to marry an unidentified individual in China through an arranged marriage facilitated by an agent. Crucially, she revealed that she was promised a sum of P50,000 upon completion of the marriage.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado commended the vigilance of the officers, stating, “This attempt exposes how traffickers use fraudulent study programs abroad as a cover for their illegal activities.” He emphasized the commitment of immigration personnel at all ports of entry and exit to remain watchful against schemes that exploit Filipinos.
The victim was subsequently handed over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for a more thorough investigation and to facilitate the filing of appropriate charges against those involved in the trafficking operation. This interception underscores the government’s strengthened measures against human trafficking, as directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has urged agencies to enhance safeguards for vulnerable Filipino travelers.
