3 Filipinas bound for Middle East held

Three more Filipinos suspected to be victims of human trafficking were held by airport immigration personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after they were able to breach the departure area without their passports being stamped, the Bureau of Immigration spokesperson said.

They were identified as Akisha May Ramos Austria, 21; Esmeralda Mandalones 43; and Jazel Obenza, 26.

Lawyer Ma. Antoinette Mangrobang said the three passengers were bound for the Middle East and were standing near boarding gates of their respective flights when they were accosted by immigration personnel for lack of proper documentation.

Mangrobang said the passengers did not go through the immigration windows and were at the lounge located after the immigration area waiting for their supposed “contact” to assist them to board their planes.

She said that Obenza and Mandalones were scheduled to board a Cathay Pacific flight while Austria was to board Emirates Air last September 17.

Based on the victims’ accounts, they were waiting for a certain “Patrick” who had earlier told them to blend with other passengers and sneak to the boarding gates without going through the immigration personnel.

Mangrobang said other passengers who posed as tourists but were actually planning to work in banned countries also hid their visas in their underwear.

The immigration official said, the trio admitted to have paid P33,000 each to their agent.

Mangrobang also said immigration personnel were ordered to monitor Filipino tourists bound for Bangkok due reports that it is now also being used as transit points by Filipino workers bound for countries were deployment of Filipino workers are banned.