BI intercepts trafficking victim at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — A human trafficking victim has been intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport while departing with a fake immigration stamp, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said yesterday.

The interception occurred on Oct. 27 at the NAIA Terminal 3, according to BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

The 46-year-old female victim, whose identity has been withheld in compliance with anti-trafficking laws, was supposed to board an AirAsia flight to Macau, but was intercepted at the BI’s primary inspection counter.

The victim initially presented herself as a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) traveling to Macau for leisure as a tourist.

She later admitted that she intended to work in Macau again without proper documentation.

The victim revealed that she was promised easy immigration and document assistance through Facebook, unaware that it involved affixing a fake departure stamp on her passport.

The BI said the traffickers reportedly charged her a fee of P40,000 for the supposed escorting services, which turned out to be a scam.

The BI’s forensic documents laboratory confirmed that the stamp presented was indeed counterfeit.

Viado expressed his concern on the public following the incident and urged aspiring OFWs to be wary of fraudulent immigration assistance promising quick solutions.

“It’s alarming to observe that this scheme remains widespread. While these offers might seem enticing to unsuspecting victims, any assurance of success with minimal effort should raise immediate red flags,” he said.