Two Filipino passengers bound for Hong Kong were stopped by immigration officers at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport after authorities suspected they were victims of illegal recruitment.
The two individuals—a 44-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man—initially claimed they were traveling as tourists. However, inconsistencies in their statements during questioning raised red flags for immigration agents.
Upon further investigation, both eventually admitted that they were planning to work overseas. The woman said she was en route to the United Arab Emirates, while the man disclosed he was bound for Jeju Island in South Korea to work on a farm.
Their intended departure via a Cebu Pacific flight was immediately halted.
The Bureau of Immigration emphasized that the case is being treated as a possible attempt at illegal deployment, a growing concern for authorities as syndicates continue to exploit Filipino job seekers through deceptive travel arrangements.
