MANILA, Philippines — Government agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport ( NAIA) intercepted recently seven Filipinas bound for the United Arab Emirates after they allegedly presented fake working permits.
Ma. Timotea Barizo, chief of the Bureau of Immigration travel control and enforcement unit, said three of the women were supposed to work as caregivers while the rest were hired as marketing and sales agents for an interior design company in Dubai.
Barizo said the women were stopped after they alleged presented fake overseas employment certificates.
“Verification showed that some of them do not have records with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration,” she said.
Barizo said the women, believed to be victims of human trafficking, presented tourist visas.
The women were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for assistance and further investigation.
The victims met their handlers and recruiters through social media and their travel papers were only handed to them before their scheduled flights, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said.
Morente advised the public not to deal with unregistered employment agencies as human trafficking rings have resumed illegal recruitment operations amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“These traffickers are taking advantage of our kababayans who are in dire need of jobs,” Morente said.