34 Thailand-bound OFWs offloaded

MANILA, Philippines—Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. revealed that attempts of human traffickers to transport Filipinos abroad still continuous despite efforts to curb human smuggling.

In a report recently submitted to David, 34 prospective overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were offloaded last April 7 for not having the required clearances and employment permits from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

The 34 Filipinos, who were carrying a business visas, were supposed to work in Thailand’s Super Giant Touring Carnival owned by Apirom Properties Company Ltd., an affiliate of the Dubai-based Big Fun World company.

David said “we need to be more vigilant and be on the lookout for similar passengers departing in large groups.”

Immigration Officer Marlene Pedrealba, who heads the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Bureau of Immigration’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit, added that the passengers admitted during the interviews that they were going to work in Bangkok. The group also admitted that once in Thailand, the company will process their working visas.

The names of the passengers were not divulged as the anti-human trafficking law prohibits the public disclosure of both the traffickers and their victims.