MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers intercepted a 17-year-old woman illegally recruited for overseas work at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on January 24, preventing her deployment to Saudi Arabia as a household helper.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the victim, identified only as “Zia,” was flagged after officers found discrepancies in her travel documents. While her passport listed her as 25 years old and a resident of Maguindanao del Sur, she later presented a birth certificate showing she is underage and ineligible for overseas employment.
Zia told authorities she was recruited by an agency based in Pasay City. She was turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance and for the investigation of her illegal recruiter.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the case highlights the government’s crackdown on human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
“This administration will not allow traffickers and illegal recruiters to prey on our children,” Viado said.
He warned that falsified documents will not shield offenders from prosecution.
The BI said it will work closely with IACAT and other agencies to ensure those involved in illegal deployment are held accountable.
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