The Bureau of Immigration authorities intercepted three women posing as tourists but believed to be victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 last June 14.
The interception aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s strong directive to intensify efforts against human trafficking and ensure the protection of Filipinos seeking opportunities abroad.
The women, all in their early 30s, were about to board a Vietnam Airlines Flight bound for Hanoi, Vietnam, when they were flagged by Bureau of Immigration officers.
The group’s actual destination was revealed to be Bulgaria, where they were allegedly recruited to work as chambermaids and domestic workers.
One of the women disclosed that she applied after seeing a job posting on Facebook and was contacted by a recruiter online. She was promised a monthly salary of 1,800 Bulgarian Lev and had already undergone an online interview with her supposed employer.
She admitted that their group planned to process Bulgarian visas in Vietnam and was instructed to carry all employment-related documents in their checked-in baggage to avoid immigration detection.
The victims were told to pretend to be regular tourists and to delete all communication with their recruiters. Each woman reportedly spent between ₱220,000 to ₱300,000 for placement fees, travel documents, and visa processing, all paid to the illegal agency.
“The manipulation these women experienced is precisely the kind of exploitation we are working hard to stop,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado. “Our frontline officers are trained to detect red flags of trafficking, and we commend their vigilance. The Bureau stands firm in its commitment to stop these crimes before they can reach foreign soil.”
The women were officially turned over to IACAT for assistance, temporary shelter, and the filing of cases against their recruiters.
