Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20) — Three officers of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are under investigation for their alleged involvement with human trafficking syndicates.
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“Nasa initial stages pa rin tayo but it has been expanded sa tatlong individuals,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Friday.
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[Translation: We are still in the initial stages but it has been expanded to three individuals.]
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According to the bureau, two of the officers were assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) while one was assigned at the Clark International Airport (CIA).
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The three were relieved from front-facing positions and moved to back-end offices to give way to the investigation, the BI said.
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The agency will also undergo an internal cleansing and restructuring following the investigation.
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“Our investigation will not stop at the three officers, we are looking at how many could be involved internally and externally,” Sandoval said. “BI will also undergo internal cleansing and restructuring.”
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“Looking at the patterns, while it might be too early to jump to conclusions, there might be a link between these immigration officers to illegal syndicates in Myanmar and Cambodia,” the BI said.
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These schemes lure Filipinos with promises of work in foreign countries, most notably Myanmar and Cambodia.
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However, upon arrival, the victims are forced to work as crypto scammers for cybercrime syndicates. There have also been reports of the victims being tortured.
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RELATED:
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The BI previously said that none of its personnel had been linked to human trafficking but did not rule out the possibility.
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Meanwhile, the BI bared that on Jan. 15, six Filipinos nearly became victims of a trafficking scheme in Cambodia. They were intercepted by authorities at the airport just before departure.
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The six pretended to be on vacation but it was revealed that they had been enticed by a recruiter to work in a call center in Cambodia, a mode of operation observed in previous cases of the scheme.
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Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was working toward the repatriation of eight victims of human trafficking in Cambodia.
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READ: PH embassy prepares to repatriate 8 victims of human trafficking in Cambodia
Amid the trafficking scandal, Sen. Risa Hontiveros lamented the participation of immigration employees who she said should be the “last line of defense” against the very act.
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“Kung totoo, nakakalungkot na mismong mga empleyado ng gobyerno ang siyang nagpapahamak sa kapwa nating Pilipino. Our Senate inquiries on the Pastillas scam resulted in the indictment of a number of BI officials, but it seems there are still groups or individuals within the agency who will stop at nothing to make an easy buck,” Hontiveros said on Friday.
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[Translation: If true, it is saddening that government employees are the ones putting Filipinos at risk.]
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“It is the duty of airport and immigration officers to be the last line of defense against the trafficking of our citizens,” she said. “Ang nangyayari, tila sila pa ang nagtutulak sa mga Pinoy na mapahamak (What happens is that they’re the ones pushing Filipinos towards danger).”
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The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality chaired by Hontiveros; and the Committee on Migrant Workers will probe the human trafficking scandal on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
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Hontiveros said that BI officials and airport terminal managers will be summoned as resource persons on the issue. In a previous Senate hearing, Hontiveros even presented victims of the trafficking scheme.
