BI forms anti-human trafficking unit at NAIA

The Bureau of Immigration formed yesterday a special unit that will spearhead the government’s intensified campaign against human trafficking at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. said the new unit, composed of 14 officers and intelligence agents of the bureau at both terminals of the NAIA, was formed to complement the recently formed inter-agency task force to combat human smuggling at the country’s main international airport.

"Being the agency tasked to enforce immigration laws, it shall be the duty of this unit to handle and supervise the disposition of all suspected foreign human traffickers that will be intercepted and apprehended at the airport," Fernandez stressed.

He appointed BI immigration regulations chief Gary Mendoza as head of the new unit.

Fernandez said he expects the government’s intensified drive against human trafficking to "send a strong message to syndicates involved in such an illegal activity."

"This shows that the government is serious and determined in stopping them from using the Philippines as a jump-off point for smuggling young men, women and children abroad where they oftentimes suffer abuse and exploitation," he warned.

The government on Monday formed an anti-human trafficking task force, composed of the BI NAIA police, National Bureau of Investigation, Aviation Security Group, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Bureau of Customs, Pasay prosecutor’s office, and National Prosecution Service of Department of Justice.

The new body is tasked to implement provisions of Anti-Human Trafficking Law of 2003.

The organizational and operational guidelines of the task force were likewise approved and signed by Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Alfonso Cusi during the launching ceremony.

Mendoza said immigration officers should play active role in the task force as they are at the frontline services in airports.

"The creation of this task force was an offshoot of a series of initiatives and organizational meetings by participating agencies, including the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and US Agency for International Development," Mendoza added.

Under the new task force’s operational guidelines, the BI is tasked to investigate and take custody of arrested foreign traffickers. It will then be the duty of the NAIA special unit to coordinate with the BI and pursue the case of suspected human smugglers.