THE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) stopped five undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who attempted to leave the country as tourists at the Clark International Airport (CIA) in separate incidents last May 8. In a press release, BI Ports Operations Division Chief Grifton SP. Medina said the five women intercepted were bound for Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Three were hired as nightclub entertainers while two were domestic helpers. The BI said the three recruited to work in a pub said they received a job offer online and met with a man in Quezon City who paid them P10,000 for recruitment. The two others, meanwhile, presented fake visas to UAE and admitted they have been offered jobs in Beirut. “Obviously these women have been victimized by unscrupulous human trafficking syndicates that prey on the poor,” Mr. Medina said, “We must pursue cases against these illegal recruiters to protect our fellow Filipinos from exploitation in foreign lands.” The five women were turned over to the inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for investigation and assistance. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR