MANILA, Philippines — Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco has placed under his direct supervision a unit within the agency tasked to address illegal recruitment and human trafficking issues.
Tansingco ordered last week the reorganization of the agency’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU), which used to be under the Intelligence Division.
According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), elevating TCEU under the Office of the Commissioner “will ensure direct supervision of the Commissioner to the section tasked to intercept human trafficking and illegal recruitment victims at the borders.”
“[T]here will be increased oversight and direct coordination in addressing trafficking issues, ultimately leading to better protection for departing Filipinos,” it added.
The TCEU was likewise renamed as the Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), stressing its role in protecting departing Filipinos from trafficking.
“The I-PROBES will continue to strictly adhere to the Department of Justice guidelines on departure formalities, ensuring that all necessary precautions are taken to safeguard potential victims,” Tansingco said.
He added that the unit was also ordered to report to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking any individual found to be facilitating the departure of trafficked Filipinos.
“We remain steadfast in our resolve to ensure that every measure is taken to protect our fellow Filipinos from falling prey to trafficking networks.”
The BI stressed that, as a result of its dedicated efforts, the Philippines has retained its prestigious Tier 1 ranking in the United States’ Trafficking in Persons report for an impressive 8th consecutive year.
“This achievement highlights the nation’s commitment to eradicating human trafficking and protecting its citizens from exploitation,” it added.
Tansingco earlier called on local law enforcement agencies to tighten security around the country’s airports to fight human trafficking.