BUREAU of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado on Sunday expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of Filipino trafficking victims targeted by catphishing syndicates.
In a news release, Viado revealed that BI agents intercepted 14 trafficking victims within a week, preventing their illegal deployment to scam hubs abroad.
On Feb. 4, three victims—aged 33, 25, and 27—were stopped at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 while attempting to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Thailand. Initially posing as first-time travelers on a self-funded trip, their conflicting responses raised suspicions. Further questioning revealed they had been recruited to work in Cambodia as customer service representatives for a fraudulent business process outsourcing (BPO) firm.
The following day, BI agents intercepted 11 more victims in their mid-20s, also bound for Bangkok. Claiming to be students on a four-day trip, they later admitted being promised PHP50,000 monthly salaries to work in fraudulent BPOs in Pakistan.
Their recruiters had instructed them to hide their Pakistani visas and pretend to be tourists.
BI I-PROBES Chief Mary Jane Hizon warned that traffickers exploit vulnerable Filipinos, luring them with false job offers. Viado condemned the scheme, stressing its dangers.
The victims have been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance, while cases are being prepared against the recruiters.
