Special unit on human smuggling formed

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration recently formed a special unit that would focus on the trafficking of Filipinos abroad and the illegal smuggling of foreigners in and out of the country.

In a statement, BI officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma said that he has created the Trafficking in Persons Unit (TIPU) to run after those engaged in human smuggling.

The elite team that would be composed of the bureau’s seasoned intelligence operatives would be led by intelligence officer Epifanio Lambino Jr.

Lambino said at least 10 Immigration agents are needed to make the unit effective in gathering intelligence information on foreigners involved in human trafficking and in coordinating with other law enforcement agencies in conducting operations against the suspects, among others.

“We are sending a strong signal to these syndicates, particularly the foreigners who manage, finance and operate them, that there will be no letup in our drive against human trafficking,” Ledesma said.

He explained that the primary objective of the BI is to support government efforts to have the Philippines removed from the Tier 2 human trafficking watch list of the US State Department.