Latest news with #Inter-AgencyCouncilAgainstTrafficking
Filipino Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Gatchalian urges crackdown as Pakistan emerges as new transit point for human trafficking
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday expressed serious concern over reports identifying Pakistan as a new transit hub being exploited by human trafficking syndicates to facilitate the illegal deployment of Filipinos abroad. The senator urged the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and other law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts in dismantling criminal networks operating across international routes. 'Reports indicating Pakistan as a new human trafficking route are deeply alarming. The government must act swiftly to put an end to human trafficking,' Gatchalian said in a statement. He also warned that individuals formerly linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) may be behind the illegal operations. 'Malamang na mga taong dating sangkot sa POGO ang gumagawa ng ganitong kriminalidad na nambibiktima ng mga walang malay nating kababayan,' the senator added. The senator's remarks came after four Filipinos were intercepted at NAIA Terminal 3 on July 6 while attempting to fly to Pakistan, where they had been recruited to work as cleaners and a cook in an online gaming compound. The Bureau of Immigration described the incident as a 'dangerous shift in trafficking patterns similar to POGO-like operations.'
Filipino Times
6 days ago
- Filipino Times
Filipinos trafficked to Pakistan for illegal online jobs, BI sounds alarm
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has raised concern over a new trafficking route targeting Filipinos, this time sending them to Pakistan to work illegally in online gambling operations—an alarming scheme similar to illegal POGO activities. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado called the development disturbing, saying it reflects how human traffickers are evolving and becoming more deceptive. 'We're seeing victims now being lured into jobs in Pakistan under false pretenses. This is clearly part of a wider network,' he said. On July 6, immigration officers stopped four Filipinos—one man and three women—at NAIA while they attempted to board a flight to Hong Kong, which was just a stopover before heading to Pakistan. They initially claimed to be going on vacation, but later admitted they were promised jobs in an online gaming hub. The recruiter, allegedly a Chinese national, offered them salaries of ₱35,000 to ₱45,000 per month and instructed them to pose as tourists. Cash was also provided to cover travel expenses. The BI is coordinating with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to identify and take action against the recruiters behind this illegal operation.
Filipino Times
07-05-2025
- Filipino Times
Three Filipinas rescued from sex trafficking in Malaysia, repatriated to PH
Three Filipinas were brought back to the Philippines after being trafficked to Malaysia through illegal sea routes and forced to work in bars as guest relations officers, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported. The women, aged 30 to 32, arrived at the Port of Zamboanga on April 5 from Sandakan, Sabah via MV Antonia. According to the initial investigation, they were recruited online and promised legitimate jobs as waitresses in Malaysia with monthly salaries ranging from PHP 40,000 to PHP 60,000. Two of the women left the country in November 2024 through what is known as an irregular migration corridor or 'backdoor' route, bypassing immigration checks by traveling from Palawan to Malaysia on small boats. They ended up working in a bar-restaurant in Sabah without proper documents and were later arrested by Malaysian authorities and detained for five months before being deported. One of the victims revealed she had been trafficked since 2021 and repeatedly exploited abroad. Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado warned against the dangers of illegal migration and deceptive recruitment, stating, 'These young women were lured by false promises, smuggled out of the country through unauthorized routes, and forced into degrading conditions abroad.' The BI urged the public to stay alert and report any suspected trafficking or illegal recruitment by contacting the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) through Actionline 1343, which is open 24/7.
Filipino Times
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Bureau of Immigration calls for legal sanctions against Filipinos leaving PH illegally
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado has expressed his concern over reports that many Filipinos, including victims of human trafficking, have been leaving the country illegally. Viado proposed to lawmakers that they consider imposing legal sanctions against Filipinos who depart the country without proper documentation. 'The country has no specific law penalizing illegal departures. Cases may fall under related violations such as falsification of public documents or tampering under the Philippine Passport Act,' Viado said in a news release. 'But criminalizing illegal exits would serve as a strong deterrent to traffickers and would make victims think twice in accepting such offers,' he added. The suggestion comes after reports that 54 Filipinos who were repatriated from Myanmar could have left the country through illegal exit points, a practice known as 'backdoor' exit. Viado called for tighter monitoring of the southern borders, where traffickers have been using small boats to secretly transport victims abroad. The commissioner emphasized the need for the Philippines to strengthen border controls as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s initiative to secure the country's borders. The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) has also previously conducted a study focused on illegal exits and the smuggling of migrants by sea. The council has recommended that local government units (LGUs) and local law enforcement agencies (LEAs) increase surveillance in areas of concern to help catch traffickers before they can exploit more victims. 'I think this is just the tip of the iceberg,' said Viado, referring to the illegal exits and trafficking activities that continue to be a problem. 'We have long been raising this concern, and it's about time that this be acknowledged and addressed, to prevent more kababayans from being victimized by this syndicate,' he added.
