4 trafficking victims rescued at Clark airport

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines — Four alleged victims of human trafficking have been rescued by agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

The four, who allegedly posed as tourists, were reportedly promised work in a beauty and spa shop in Qatar by their recruiter.

The BI’s immigration protection and border enforcement section said the victims introduced themselves as friends going on vacation in Singapore on Aug. 21.

Immigration officers noted the victims’ conflicting statements and referred them for secondary questioning.

Three of them admitted they were recruited by their male companion, who promised them jobs as hairdressers and massage therapists in Qatar.

They said they were told that they would be paid P15,000 to P25,000 monthly.

The male companion said he was hired by a Dubai-based recruiter and that he invited three friends to join him.

They said the recruiter asked P10,000 from each of his companions for processing their documents.

According to the victims, they were advised to introduce themselves as tourists.

The four were referred to the airport’s inter-agency council against trafficking for further investigation.