Victims of human traffic held at NAIA-3

Seventeen female Filipinos and minors were apprehended by alert agents of the National Bureau of Investigation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration at the newly opened NAIA Terminal 3 in an attempt to leave the country through manipulation of human traffickers bound for Jordan and Syria.

Lawyer Rosalina Chiong, chief of the NBI-NAIA refused to identify the minor passengers as part of confidentiality while an investigation is being conducted. But, she confirmed that all of them aged 14 to 17 are natives of Maguindanao and Cotabato in Mindanao.

Chiong said that the passports of the passengers were found tampered [look-alike or photo substitution] in violation of RA 8239.

Two members of the syndicate, identified only as “Teng” and “Toni”, alleged illegal recruiters who facilitated the departure of the minors were arrested by the authorities on Tuesday afternoon by operatives.

It was learned that two members of the syndicate are close relatives of Immigration Officer Mindaya Ombawa who is assigned at the NAIA-T1. Mindaya allegedly gave instructions to the passengers to check in at the Cebu Pacific Airlines counters and proceed to her at the BI counter for their immigration passport ‘validation.’

During a brief car chase outside the NAIA T-3, the suspected illegal recruiter along with “Teng” and “Toni” were found inside Ombawa’s car.

The victims were about to board the flight of Cebu Pacific Airlines bound for Jordan and Syria via Hong Kong when intercepted by authorities.

Ferdinand Sampol, operations chief of the BI-NAIA, said “Matagal na naming sinusubaybayan ang grupo na ‘yan, kaso lang may operasyon pala ang NBI sa labas ng NAIA T-3.”

“We are willing to cooperate with the NBI in future operation,” Sampol said.

Sampol said that BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan ordered him to personally investigate Ombawa regarding the incident. The result of the investigation will be the basis of their legal action. “Kung kailangang alisin ay aalisin si Ombawa dahilan sa nakakasira siya sa magandang imahe ng bureau,” Sampol said.

“We are doing the very best to clean the bureau’s name as Commissioner Libanan always reminds us, “you are the frontliners and the first people who will be met by passengers upon their arrival,” pero sa isang iglap like this, masisira ang bureau sa kagagawan ng isang empleado lamang.”