NAGPALABAS ng babala si Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente sa mga gustong maging overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) na mag-ingat sa illegal recruiters na nagbibigay ng mga pekeng dokumento.
Ang babala ni Morente ay matapos na may dalawang pasahero na nagpanggap na mga turista ang naharang sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 kamakailan.
Ayon kay Morente, ang mga pasahero ay pinigil para sa kanilang proteksyon, na nagtangkang sumakay sa Emirates Airlines flight patungong Dubai noong Oktubre 17.
“We are currently in a pandemic, and it is disheartening to know that these illegal recruiters still have the audacity to take advantage of their fellows,” ani Morente.
Sa incident report sa BI chief ng Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) officers, ibinunyag nila na ang dalawang pasahero ay first-time travelers na may mga pekeng company identification cards at certificates of employment sa ilalim ng apparel company.
“They initially told our secondary inspectors that they were sent by an apparel company to attend training as sales representatives in the UAE. However, our officers found inconsistencies in their statements,” dagdag ni Morente.
Kaugnay nito, inamin naman ng dalawang pasahero na ni-recruit sila ng apparel company at kalaunan ay ipinakita sa kanila ng isang manager ng nasabing kumpanya ang kanilang employment contracts para magtrabaho bilang household service workers (HSWs) sa nabanggit na bansa na kanilang pupuntahan.
“They will apparently be employed as household workers of an employee of the apparel company, and not under the company itself,” banggit pa ni Morente.
Idinagdag pa niya na ang kanilang travel documents ay ibibigay lamang sa kanila (OFWs) ng kanilang recruiter bago ang kanilang flight.
“The main reason why we require all departing OFWs to be checked first by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is so we are sure that nobody will suffer the consequences of human trafficking,” ayon sa hepe ng BI.
“Be keen in transacting with these recruiters and always double-check their licenses and accreditations,” babala pa niya.
Kasabay nito, binalaan din ng BI commissioner ang namemeke ng mga dokumento na may kahaharapin silang parusa.
“You are in full violation of the law, and this is punishable under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act,” ayon pa kay Morente.
Ang dalawang biktima ay agad na itinurn-over sa Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking para sa tulong at imbestigasyon. (JOEL O. AMONGO)
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