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Friday, March 29, 2024

Trafficking case vs 16

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AT LEAST 16 Immigration officers are in trouble over their possible involvement in human trafficking at the Ninoy Aquino International airport, Mactan International Airport, Laoag International Airport and Clark International Airport, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Monday.

He said the case came into the open after five Filipinas were deported by South Korean authorities for overstaying and working without a permit.

The names of the officers were withheld pending an investigation, but they were ordered to explain why they should not be charged for allowing the women to leave the country in 2014, Morente said.

“We will not hesitate to punish any of our employees who connive with human traffickers in preying on our women. That is unforgivable,” he said.

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“They have been relieved from their airport counter duties and their immigration stamps confiscated.”

Morente ordered the probe after the Filipinas arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on July 23 after being deported from South Korea. 

The women departed the country posing as tourists, and their Korean entertainers’ visas were placed on their passports only during their stop-over in Hong Kong. 

They worked as nightclub singers in South Korea and were eventually deported for overstaying. Their promoter in Korea was likewise arrested. 

The women’s identities were not revealed because the anti-human trafficking law forbids it.

Initial reports said the women separately left the country two years ago for various destinations before proceeding to South Korea.

They were allegedly cleared for departure by immigration officers despite their doubtful purpose of travel and presentation of questionable documents. 

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