BI: NAIA employee escorted 2 trafficking victims

MANILA, Philippines — Immigration officials have reported that two victims of human trafficking were escorted by an employee of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at the NAIA Terminal 3 on Dec. 22.

The passengers reportedly posed as friends from General Santos City going to Thailand on a supposed vacation.

From Thailand, they were supposed to depart for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

According to Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, an airport employee assisted the passengers to the BI counters, which are strictly off-limits to unauthorized personnel, especially those providing VIP treatment to trafficking victims.

“Immigration supervisors promptly intervened, signaling that such actions were unauthorized and against protocol,” Tansingco said.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said they did not arrest the person “because that is not part of our jurisdiction. We do not have police powers to arrest a Filipino.”

She said they reported the incident to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and Manila International Airport Authority.

The victims admitted that they were recruited as household service workers in Dubai through Facebook.

The IACAT said it would look into the incident and file charges against the recruiters.