Bureau of Immigration forms task force versus human trafficking

The Bureau of Immigration has formed a special task force to fight human traffickers and illegal recruiters in the various international airports and sub-ports in the country.

BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said the creation of the BI task force is necessary to “ensure a more focused, coordinated and effective program of action to curb human trafficking and illegal recruitment.”

Libanan issued Memorandum Order No. MCL-09-002 on Friday creating the BI special task force on anti-human trafficking and anti-illegal recruitment.

Headed by lawyer Gary Mendoza, BI immigration regulations chief, the task force also includes Ferdinand Sampol, BI-NAIA operations chief; Rodolfo Gino, chief BI National Operations Center; Simeon Vallada, anti-fraud chief; and Rogelio Gevero, NAIA-Migration Compliance and Monitoring Group, as vice-chairmen. Named as members of the team are the chief immigration supervisors of the airports in Cebu, Davao and Clark and alien control officers of the BI field offices in Laoag, Aparri, Palawan, Subic, Zamboanga, Tuguegarao, and Kalibo. – Rudy Santos