Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers stationed at the Clark International Airport (CIA) successfully intercepted three trafficking victims attempting to illegally work as entertainers in South Korea.
The victims, all female, initially claimed to be tourists bound for Thailand on March 10, accompanied by another female companion. However, officers from BI’s immigration protection and border enforcement section (I-PROBES) detected inconsistencies in their statements and referred them for secondary inspection.
During the interview, the victims confessed that their companion was their recruiter, and they were actually destined for South Korea to work as singers. The recruiter had promised them a monthly salary of P40,000.
The victims expressed their desire to process their documents legally, but the recruiter pressured them to pose as tourists and conceal their true destination. The recruiter planned to escort them to Korea and return to the Philippines alone.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco cautioned aspiring overseas workers against falling for false promises made by recruiters. He highlighted the risks, stating, “There are numerous cases documented wherein victims are promised work as entertainers but end up in prostitution.” Tansingco urged aspiring workers to seek employment through legal channels to protect themselves.
The three victims and their recruiter were handed over to the CIA inter-agency council against trafficking (IACAT). Charges are anticipated to be filed against the recruiter in connection with the incident.