A Filipina woman abandoned her work plans in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over fears of being trafficked. The woman, identified only as Nina for her protection, was intercepted by Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers during a pre-flight screening at the airport, scheduled to depart for Hong Kong on November 3.
During the primary inspection, Nina exhibited “numerous inconsistencies” in her interview, prompting a more thorough investigation by the airport’s secondary inspection officer. It was then that she chose to halt her trip, expressing apprehension about her upcoming journey. She disclosed to the officer that her actual destination was the UAE, where she was to work as a household helper after a short ‘tour’ in Hong Kong.
Nina revealed she had been illegally recruited through Facebook by a fellow Filipina, who offered her a monthly salary of P30,000. This confession likely saved her from an uncertain and potentially dangerous situation abroad.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco lauded Nina’s courage to speak up, highlighting the importance of self-protection and the dangers of illegal recruitment channels. The BI has since endorsed Nina’s case to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, which is extending assistance to her and has launched an investigation into her recruiter’s activities.
