A NEW human trafficking scheme that bypasses the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) validation process at the airport using fake stamps and signatures has been uncovered by the Bureau of Immigration (BI). In a press statement on Wednesday, BI Port Operations Division Chief Grifton SP. Medina said the scheme was discovered when a supposed female overseas Filipino worker (OFWs) going to the United Arab Emirates was barred from travelling after presenting a fake clearance from the POEA. “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,” Mr. Medina was quoted as saying. Erwin S. Ortañez, head of the BI’s travel and control enforcement unit (TCEU), said the passenger eventually confessed that her handler signed the overseas employment certificate along with her job contract and working visa hours before the scheduled flight. BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente again warned prospective OFWs against becoming human trafficking victims. “These recruiters will sweet-talk you into thinking that their offer is the easier way to work abroad, do not fall for their illegal schemes,” Mr. Morente said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR