Four Filipinos who allegedly received offers to work in Russia were stopped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after immigration officers flagged inconsistencies in their declared travel plans.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the four passengers were intercepted in two separate incidents on September 18 and 19 and were assessed as potential victims of human trafficking.
The passengers initially declared other destinations but allegedly disclosed during secondary inspection that they intended to travel to Russia.
The three men, identified as “Aldo,” 30 years old; “Nery,” 41 years old; and “Baby,” 38 years old, were intercepted while traveling together. They had declared Thailand as their destination.
During questioning, Aldo allegedly told immigration officers that Russia was his actual destination and that he had been recruited through a Facebook post for a security job offering a monthly salary of P70,000.
Nery reportedly said he was recruited by an unidentified person in Bangkok, while Baby allegedly said his trip was sponsored by an individual identified as “Alexander.”
The following day, BI officers intercepted another passenger, identified as “King,” 34 years old, who was traveling to Vietnam aboard a Philippine Airlines flight.
During secondary inspection, King allegedly disclosed that he planned to continue to Russia for military service. He reportedly said he had been promised P150,000 a month, Russian citizenship after one year and additional bonuses for completing a “special mission.”
King also reportedly presented a concealed Russian visa and told immigration officers that he did not shoulder his travel expenses.
The four passengers were subsequently turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further assessment, investigation and appropriate assistance.
The BI said the cases highlight the importance of checking overseas employment offers before leaving the country, particularly those received through social media or other informal channels.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado urged Filipinos seeking work abroad to verify employment offers, recruitment agencies and job orders through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and its licensed recruitment agencies.
He cautioned jobseekers to be particularly wary of offers promising unusually high salaries, immediate deployment or other attractive benefits without proper documentation.
The latest interceptions form part of the BI’s efforts to prevent human trafficking and illegal recruitment at Philippine borders. The bureau is also a member of IACAT.
The BI encouraged the public to report suspected trafficking or illegal recruitment through its hotline at (+632) 8-465-2400 or through its official email addresses, [email protected] and [email protected]. Reports may also be made to other government agencies.
For Filipinos planning to work overseas, immigration officials stressed that verifying an employer and recruitment arrangement before traveling can help prevent potentially dangerous or exploitative situations.
(PHOTO CREDIT: BI Facebook page)