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| BI photo of the 2 women arrested as they tried to fly to HK on way to Cambodia |
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration has announced the arrest of a suspected illegal recruiter along with two Filipinas he was trying to take to Hong Kong en route to Cambodia for supposed call center jobs.
Officers of the National Bureau of Investigation arrested the three on April 19 at terminal 3 of
the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila after they tried to get past
immigration while posing as friends on their way to an Easter holiday in Hong
Kong.
The alleged agent named “Andy” told immigration
officers that he was friends with the two, calling them “beshies”, and even
presented numerous documents of their supposed local employment.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
However, immigration officers noted a number of
inconsistencies in their statements and subjected them to further inquiries.
The three later admitted that they were actually bound
for Cambodia to work as encoders and agents in a call center there. They said
their fake documents were supplied by a contact whom they met on Facebook.
“Andy” admitted he did not know his two female companions,
aged 34 and 31, and had tried to facilitate their departure to Cambodia by
pretending to be friends with them.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
NBI agents determined it was another clear case of Filipinos being recruited for supposed call center jobs abroad, but would later be forced to work in scam hubs.
Andy was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking
and illegal recruitment. He and the two women were referred to the inter-agency
council against trafficking (IACAT) which is pursuing an investigation into the
case.
IACAT said Andy is the 13th person to be
arrested on charges of human trafficking this year.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado hailed the arrest
as part of the increasing efforts by the government to step up efforts against
human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
“We thank the IACAT and
the NBI-IAID for their unwavering commitment in pursuing this case to the end,”
said Viado in a statement.
“Their tireless efforts in building airtight cases against traffickers not only deliver justice for the victims, but also give meaning and purpose to the relentless work of our frontliners at the ports. Every case filed strengthens our resolve to protect our borders and safeguard vulnerable individuals from exploitation.”
