MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday said that it intercepted two alleged human traffickers and their six Filipino would-be victims.
According to the BI, the two recruiters, and six Filipinos – five women and one man, attempted to board a flight to Hong Kong on March 22 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The victims said that they were traveling as tourists, but on secondary inspection, they said that they were going to Malta, as they were hired by the two recruiters.
The BI added that the victims paid P300,000 to P400,000 to their recruiters for processing their application.
Their passports were also found to be tampered, the BI added.
The agency likewise said that the alleged traffickers were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
“Let this be a warning against human traffickers who dupe victims to agreeing to depart via illegal means,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.