Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 15) — Foreign nationals are supposedly being illegally flown out of the country through private aircraft – a scheme senators vowed to investigate.
Sen. Grace Poe bared the alleged human trafficking in a privilege speech on Wednesday.
The senator said a plane left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for Dubai on Feb. 13 without a pre-flight inspection, and carrying passengers who are not on the manifest.
Poe added that the General Declaration held by the Bureau of Immigration listed seven passengers: a Malaysian, Korean, Chinese, Vanuatu, and three other foreigners from Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Eight other “Asian-looking nationals” arrived at NAIA’s Balabag ramp but stopped short of boarding after seeing an aircraft inspector taking videos, Poe said.
“However, at around the same time, the inspectors noticed three unauthorized individuals entering the aircraft followed by the aircraft door closing,” said Poe, who chairs the Senate public services committee.
She said aircraft inspectors, as well as the Philippine National Police’s Aviation Security Group, tried to stop the departure. An immigration officer, however, claimed that the passengers were cleared to travel.
“Police Col. Campo called a certain Retired General Robles of CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) to request the control tower to hold the departure of the aircraft. Ang sabi ni Gen. Robles ay hindi ito posible dahil naaprubahan na ang flight navigation clearance,” Poe added.
[Translation: Gen. Robles said this was impossible since the flight navigation clearance was already approved.]
She said the plane is operated by the Hong Kong-registered Cloud Nine No. 1 Leasing Company Limited. The senator also identified Globan Aviation Services Corporation as the local aircraft ground handler.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros said it’s the same name of the company involved in Pharmally executives Mohit and Twinkle Dargani’s attempt to leave the country via Davao airport amid their alleged involvement in a corruption scandal.
“Unless, there are two Globans, then we assume that it is the same company and maybe we should check if that Globan is really in the business of smuggling people out of the country,” Poe said.
The incident is now being investigated by the Bureau of Immigration, according to Poe. She noted that a similar incident happened in December last year involving Chinese nationals, but she did not go into detail.
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri expressed his “disgust,” saying the scheme may have been benefiting criminals.
“They could have a criminal record here and then to avoid arrest they fly out in the middle of the night. In the dead of the night,” he said.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa decried the involvement of Chinese nationals, taking note of the Chinese Coast Guard’s recent incursion in the West Philippine Sea.
“Their compatriots are blinding our Coast Guard with laser lights and yet dito sa ating teritoryo [here in our own territory] they are given VIP treatment, what a disgusting incident. Ako’y hindi lang naiinis, kundi gusto ko nang sakalin ang mga tao natin na gumagawa ng gano’n [I’m outraged. I want to choke the people who are doing this],” Dela Rosa said.
The matter has been referred to the Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Francis Tolentino. It will lead the investigation along with Poe’s panel, and Dela Rosa’s public order committee.
