13,680 Pinoys barred from leaving Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — At least 13,680 Filipinos were barred by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) from leaving the country last year for having improper documents.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said yesterday the COVID-19 pandemic made vulnerable Filipinos easy prey to illegal recruiters as they were assured of lucrative jobs abroad.

“In these trying times, Filipinos in dire financial need become easy prey to illegal recruiters, who assure them of lucrative jobs abroad,” he said.

Morente said they have also foiled 688 human trafficking and illegal recruitment attempts at the country’s international ports.

Victims would usually be given fake documents or fed fake statements, either to work abroad or to attempt to leave the country, he said.