The Bureau of Immigration (BI) intercepted three victims of trafficking who were supposed to leave for Hong Kong but with a connecting flight to Ethiopia to work there.
Commissioner Norman Tansingco said officers of the BI Protection and Border Enforcement Section prevented the three male victims, all in their early 40s and late 30s, initially claimed to be tourists, from boarding a Cathay Pacific flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
All initially claimed to be employed in the construction industry locally, and are each traveling alone for a vacation. However, upon interview, it was found out that they were bound for Ethiopia for employment.
The victims said they were promised high-paying jobs, but were instructed to pose as tourists.
The three victims were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance in filing cases against their recruiter.
“We urge anyone who knows of or suspects human trafficking to report it to the BI or to the IACAT,” Tansingco said.
“We will not tolerate this crime and we will do everything we can to protect our kababayans from being exploited,” he added.