BI busts human trafficking scheme; undocumented worker held at Naia

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday warned would-be overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) anew to be wary illegal recruitment and human trafficking syndicates forging labor and employment documents after a would-be victim was held at the airport over the weekend.

BI Port Operations Division chief Grifton Medina said that the “racket” of the illegal recruiters was uncovered after one OFW was intercepted at the airport last Sunday.

“It appears that the syndicates are now faking the stamp and signatures of POEA personnel at the airport in order to dupe immigration officers into believing that the employment papers of their victims are genuine,” Medina said in a statement.

The OFW, who was not identified, was bound for United Arab Emirates and scheduled to board a Cathay Pacific flight.

According to Medina, when immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 inspected the OFW’s overseas employment certificate (OEC), they found out that it was tampered.

“The lady manning the POEA counter was surprised upon seeing the stamp on the OEC and denied that she cleared and signed the document.  She even insisted that she had not cleared any OEC yet since she reported for duty minutes earlier,” travel control and enforcement unit chief Erwin Ortañez said.

Upon further investigation, Ortañez said that victim admitted that she received her OEC, job contract, and working visa from her handler a few hours before her flight.

The victim was also instructed by her recruiter to check in her baggage as a traveling tourist but to line up at the immigration lane for OFWs.

Medina warned illegal recruiters that they “will not escape the watchful eyes of our vigilant immigration officers at the airport.” / gsg

READ: BI on alert against human trafficking