PASAY, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) successfully reported its latest crackdown on a notorious online trafficker targeting vulnerable Filipino job seekers online.
In a report to BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, members of the Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) detailed the rescue of two female victims—referred to as “Annie” and “Aiza,” both in their mid-thirties—at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last April 25.
The two initially claimed to be friends traveling to Hong Kong for a short vacation, but their responses during primary inspection raised red flags, prompting a secondary inspection.
During the follow-up interview, the pair admitted their actual destination was Bahrain, where they had been recruited for factory work promising a monthly salary of 130 BHD, approximately ₱19,000.
The questioning revealed that the online trafficker had given them two envelopes—one containing standard travel documents, and another with a Bahrain-bound airline ticket and visa application—under the pretense of legal overseas employment.
The two were promptly referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to pursue legal action against their recruiters.
“This case has also exposed the same recruiter as the mastermind behind another group supposedly scheduled to leave for Thailand on April 29,” said Viado.
“More than twenty individuals that are said to be recruited to this scheme are now under surveillance. This information has been forwarded to IACAT, and we are fully committed to dismantling this trafficking ring,” he added.
Further investigation revealed that the trafficker misled recruits by promising legitimate Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) processing. However, they were first instructed to pose as tourists to bypass immigration scrutiny.
Viado emphasized that this case reflects the government’s intensified efforts to combat trafficking, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to synchronize anti-trafficking initiatives across agencies.
“The BI stands united with IACAT in the relentless pursuit of illegal recruiters,” he said. “We are committed to securing justice for our people and protecting Filipinos from exploitation at home and abroad.”
