EDITORIAL — Don’t fall for the “bitbit”

Desperate to get their hands on human cattle, some human traffickers are now turning to a new way to smuggle people out of the country; the so-called “bitbit” scheme.

With this scheme a male smuggler pretends to be the lover or domestic partner of the female victim so he can “accompany” her out of the country. Last March 22, a man was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 for doing just that. He raised suspicions after he earlier left the country for Malaysia with another woman whom he claimed was also his partner.

While he was able to return to the Philippines his “partner” never did.

His second intended victim, whom he was also taking to Malaysia, was lucky; his first victim still has to be accounted for. Authorities believe the first woman was taken to be part of the flesh trade there.

It’s understandable why human traffickers would consider this scheme; authorities are usually on the lookout for groups of people when watching out for human trafficking.

Couples are also harder to sniff out and Filipinos in general, even Customs officials, don’t usually want to pry into the private lives of people. Although in this instance we are thankful that they decided to do so.

This incident should serve as a lesson for those who think nothing of taking people out of the country to an uncertain fate. Nothing good will ever come out of human smuggling.

This incident should also serve as a lesson for those who are intended to be victims.

No one leaves her country and her family willingly on the promise that they will have work in the flesh trade; there had to have been an offer from the trafficker of an easy and legitimate job earning lots of money, enough to support herself and her family.

As the old adage goes: If it’s too good to be true it probably is.

Needless to say those who are looking for gainful work abroad should still look for them in the proper channels and not take dubious offers from unscrupulous individuals.