By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
Officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) stopped six female trafficking victims at the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo who attempted to leave the country to work as household workers in Lebanon.
In a report, the bureau’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) said the six women were intercepted at the departure area of the airport on Dec 1 as they were about to board a flight to Hong Kong.
“Upon arriving in Hong Kong they were supposed to board their connecting flight to Beirut and end up working there as household service workers (HSWs) without the appropriate overseas work permits,” Ma. Timotea Barizo, BI-TCEU overall supervisor said.
“They all admitted that they were traveling to Lebanon to work as HSWs without the necessary documents,” Ma. Lourdes Mariano, bureau’s head supervisor.
The victims alleged that a certain “Alfred” facilitated the processing of their travel documents and that their work visas would be handed to them upon arrival in Beirut.
Barizo said the trafficking attempt was prevented after the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) action line received a tip from informants.
“A concerned citizen called the IACAT 1343 action line to relay the information. Reports like these are really valuable to the council as they help us immediately identify the victims and conduct rescue operations,” she added.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 6 Welfare Officer III Jack Arroyo said it was not the first time that illegal trafficking victims were intercepted in the Iloilo airport.
“It is not the first time, may na-intercept man dira dati sa Iloilo airport tatlo and ara man sa Kalibo International Airport and they were also bound for Lebanon,” he said.
Despite strict monitoring and securities, Arroyo said the immigration officers cannot stop those who plan to work abroad without necessary permits especially when they declare themselves as tourists.
“Kon kaisa indi mo mabal-an nga may tuyo gale siya maubra sa Lebanon and nobody can stop them from leaving the country. Kon makalusot siya di kay wala niya gindeclare nga worker siya but tourist, pag-abot sa Lebanon didto lang nila mabal-an nga problema gale ila nakadtuan,” he stressed.
Arroyo reiterated that household workers who plan to work outside the country should have a valid agency, verified contract, and working VISA to secure a permit from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
Those who have not complied with the above-mentioned requirements and legal processing from the POEA are considered illegal trafficking, Arroyo furthered.
“If you are trying to apply and work abroad you have to educate yourself kon ano ang proper procedures and requirements. Ang aton gobyerno, ginaisa-isa na ila requirements and trainings para maprotektahan sila nga kon ano matabo sa ila didto may ahensya sila kadtuan like POEA and OWWA,” he said.
He urged Ilonggos who plan to work as household workers abroad who want to verify their recruitment agencies and those who want to know the legal processes and instructions to contact their 24-hour hotline number, 09178327307.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente asked the public to report possible cases of human trafficking to the IACAT 1343 action line.
“The IACAT 1343 action line is a very valuable tool in preventing human trafficking. We urge our fellow Filipinos to call and report so the council may investigate and rescue these poor victims who are duped by traffickers and illegal recruiters,” Morente said.
