BI probes trafficking attempt at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has launched an investigation into an attempt by three human trafficking victims to leave the country illegally by using fake access passes to get past security at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) on Nov. 6.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said yesterday he issued the order after his office received a report on the incident.

Two women and a man tried to board separate flights for Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Tansingco said the three victims were intercepted by security personnel when they used fake airport access passes to enter the boarding gates.

The victims used the employees’ entrance at the airport and presented fake identification cards indicating they were employees of establishments at NAIA.

Investigators found that the passports and boarding passes the victims carried were also fake.

“One of the victims admitted that they were actually bound for Lebanon to work there without the required documentation. This is a clear case of human trafficking,” Tansingco said.

Insiders said the fake access passes were reportedly provided by an unidentified BI employee assigned at NAIA who escorted the three victims one at a time through the employees’ entrance.