BI: 3 Pinays trafficked in Malaysia back home

MANILA, Philippines — Three Filipino women who were allegedly forced into sex trafficking have been repatriated from Malaysia, the Bureau of Immigration reported yesterday. 

In a statement, the BI said the three victims aged between 30 and 32 years old came from Sandakan, Sabah on a ship and arrived at the Port of Zamboanga on April 5.

“They were victims of false promises, smuggled out of the country through unauthorized routes and forced into degrading conditions abroad,” Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said.

An investigation showed that victims were recruited through social media and were promised employment as waitresses in Malaysia, with a monthly salary of up to P60,000.

Upon arrival in Malaysia, they were forced to work as guest relations officers in bars, the BI said.

Two of the victims traveled from Palawan to Malaysia on a boat to evade immigration procedures at the ports in November 2024.

They were brought to a bar in Sabah where they were arrested by Malaysian authorities for working without permits.

The third victim said she had been trafficked as early as 2021 and had been subjected to exploitation.