Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers intercepted two Filipino women believed to be victims of human trafficking and held their alleged recruiter at the Clark International Airport (CIA).
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the three passengers initially claimed to be tourists bound for Hong Kong, flying out via Cebu Pacific Airlines.
The two victims claimed to be working as nannies for their traveling companion “Pauline,” 60, who was with two minor children.
Names of the victims and suspect have been withheld in compliance with anti-trafficking laws.
When interviewed separately, it was found that they were bound to the United Arab Emirates to work as household service workers, and were offered a salary of 1,600 Dirhams.
Both victims said that they stumbled upon the recruitment via Facebook, and were instructed to travel with “Pauline” and her children and pretend they were her employees.
The two victims and their supposed recruiter were turned over to the CIA Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation.