Manila’s BI Intercepts Three Filipinas Bound for Singapore in Human Trafficking Case

MANILA: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) successfully intercepted three Filipino women, suspected victims of human trafficking, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City. The operation took place during an attempt by the individuals to depart for Singapore.

According to Philippines News Agency, the women, whose identities are being protected, were apprehended on December 8 as they tried to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Singapore under the guise of a vacation. Tansingco detailed that the women had presented themselves as co-workers on a three-day holiday, initially claiming employment at a logistics company and providing documents from their purported employer.

However, doubts were raised during a secondary inspection by immigration officials. Further scrutiny revealed that all three women possessed active work permits for hotel jobs in Singapore, contradicting their initial claims. Upon verification, the victims admitted they learned of the job opportunity through a Facebook group and received their travel documents from an online acquaintance for printing.

Tansingco urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to human trafficking or illegal recruitment. Following the interception, the passengers were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further investigation, marking a significant step in the ongoing battle against human trafficking in the region.