BI stops 10 Pinoys bound for Russia

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Immigration agents prevented 10 Filipinos, believed to be victims of human trafficking, from leaving for Moscow on Sept. 9, the BI said yesterday.

The 10 Filipinos had claimed they were going to Moscow to study the Russian language but would seek jobs there after finishing their language course, BI Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) head Floro Balato said.

Balato reported that five of the passengers were initially invited for questioning after they were spotted queuing at the immigration counter.

Two of them admitted that they were previously offloaded last March when they tried to leave for Doha, Qatar, he added.

The passengers then informed their interviewers that five of their companions were already at the airport’s boarding gate. The TCEU members stopped the other five passengers as they were about to board the plane.

All 10 passengers were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for investigation.