Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18) — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intercepted a female victim of human trafficking at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) who was ordered by her recruiter to use a wheelchair to avoid strict inspection.
Authorities caught the victim who was attempting to leave the country on a flight bound for Thailand on Thursday, the BI said on Friday.
It also said the victim had inconsistent statements when further examined but later admitted she was hired to work as a household service worker in Lebanon.
“She admitted that her recruiter instructed her to feign sickness so she can use a wheelchair,” the BI said. “The victim stated that she was instructed to delete all conversations with her recruiter on her mobile phone.
The victim said she was also promised that she will be sent to Hong Kong to search for another job if her Lebanon visa will be denied, it added.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco warned that human traffickers will “go to great lengths” to convince prospects to leave illegally but they will disappear once victims encounter distress.
The victim was directed to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance and further probe against her recruiter, the BI said.
