Manila: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has emphasized the need for a comprehensive government approach to effectively address the increasing human trafficking cases in the country. Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado highlighted that while enhancing border control is essential, tackling human trafficking demands a collaborative effort that includes local government units (LGUs) and local law enforcement agencies, especially in areas used as illegal travel routes.
According to Philippines News Agency, Commissioner Viado stressed the importance of collective action, stating, "Everyone must work together as there is a need to strengthen efforts at all levels to curb illegal departures. Traffickers are exploiting illegal routes to avoid detection by immigration, making it crucial for LGUs and local authorities to increase monitoring and enforcement in vulnerable areas."
The Commissioner also expressed concern over the rising number of Filipino trafficking victims leaving the country through unauthorized routes to work in "POGO (Philippine offshore gaming operators)-like" companies abroad. A study by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) on these backdoor routes marks a significant step towards protecting these vulnerable areas.
In a recent case, three repatriated trafficking victims-two females and one male-returned to the Philippines from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, after being misled into working as "love scammers." These individuals sought assistance from the Philippine embassy following months of physical assault and torture at the hands of their employers.
The victims had no official departure records from the Philippines, having exited illegally by boat from Jolo, Sulu to Sabah. Subsequently, their passports were fraudulently stamped in Sabah before they traveled to Cambodia via Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. Initially recruited through Facebook by a fellow Filipino promising a Customer Service Representative job in Cambodia, they were trained as "love scammers" but received only a fraction of the promised salary.
When they attempted to change employers due to underpayment, their Chinese employer subjected them to physical abuse, confiscated their mobile phones, and abandoned them. With the assistance of the Philippine Embassy, they managed to return home, where the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now investigating their recruiters.
The BI's Documents Laboratory confirmed the use of fake BI departure stamps on the victims' passports, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance and coordination among government bodies to combat human trafficking.
