File photo shows passengers forming a line at the Bureau of Immigration counters in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco on Tuesday denounced misinformation circulating on social media, which “might cause aspiring workers to be illegally recruited or trafficked.”
In a statement, Tansingco said there had been several videos on TikTok encouraging Filipinos to pose as tourists and cite their right to travel prior to departure, and eventually seek employment once overseas.
He noted that TikTok videos shared sans proper context may lead to confusion.
Tansingco cited various cases in the past where Filipinos would attempt to travel abroad as tourists so they can work in other countries “without any problems.”
‘Your days are numbered’
Tansingco also pressed his warning against human traffickers that they can face up to 40 years behind bars.
“Those who abuse social media to recruit and traffic Filipinos are being monitored already by local law enforcement agencies. The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) is very active in arresting and prosecuting recruiters, so your days are numbered,” Tansingco said.
The BI, according to Tansingco, is “the last line of defense” of the IACAT and is tasked to ensure that Filipinos departing the country are properly documented in accordance with their actual purpose of travel. (Aliah Gumasing, INQUIRER.net trainee)