MANILA, Philippines - Don’t give nuns a bad name.
The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) yesterday called on authorities to hunt down the recruiters of six undocumented Filipino workers who tried to sneak into Lebanon disguised as nuns.
AMRSP head Sister Mary John Mananzan said the latest modus operandi of illegal recruiters desecrates the habit worn by nuns.
“I don’t mind if they (airport authorities) will be stricter with us… I’m really not in favor of giving us special treatment but I don’t like it that people will use our sacred habit in order to do what is wrong,” Mananzan said.
Immigration Travel Control Enforcement Unit (TCEU) Supervisor Rodolfo Magbuhos said the female domestic workers dressed as nuns were apprehended when they were about to board a Cebu Pacific flight bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a connecting flight to Lebanon.
He said Immigration officers were at first reluctant to apprehend the nuns because they did not want to disrespect the reigious.
The women, whose identities were withheld pending investigation, later admitted they only had tourist visas and were searching for domestic jobs in Lebanon without work permits.
They were turned over to the Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for proper disposition.
There is a standing travel ban to Lebanon because of the security situation and inadequate protection for foreign workers.