MANILA, Philippines — Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have prevented three women from leaving the country on suspicion that they could be victims of human trafficking.
The three were intercepted on Sept. 25 at NAIA Terminal 1 while attempting to leave the country using spurious travel documents, the immigration protection and border enforcement unit reported to Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.
The women presented themselves as travelers bound for Vietnam, but their E-class Cambodian visas indicated that they were heading for Phnom Penh in Cambodia.
During interview, immigration officers noted discrepancies and inconsistencies in their intended destination, length of stay and other circumstances surrounding their trip, aside from questionable and tampered documents.
Filipinos have previously been rescued from trafficking and illegal recruitment schemes linked to online scam operations in Cambodia.
“Do not be easily lured by promises of high-paying jobs abroad, especially when the circumstances surrounding the offer are unclear. There is a risk that you could end up like other Filipinos who have fallen victim to trafficking syndicates and suffered abusive working conditions,” Viado warned Filipinos seeking employment abroad.