Editorial

Last month, Bureau of Immigration officers intercepted six Filipinos – three at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Jan. 20, and another three at Clark International Airport in Pampanga on Jan. 31. The six, who all initially claimed they were traveling as part of a group tour, were about to board flights to Thai capital Bangkok, with three of them saying their final destination was Laos.

Those bound for Laos said they were offered jobs as a customer service representative for P40,000 a month, sales representative and cook supposedly in an investment company. The other three said they were initially promised jobs in a cargo company, but were later told they would work as encoders and

NO doubt the visit, the 2nd visit in fact of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, underscores the strong partnership between the United States and the Philippines, coming as it is on the heels of the previous e-games staff with salaries of $1,000 a month.

All six said they met the recruitment agents through social messaging apps – a common story among human trafficking victims, according to immigration officials. Other victims were offered jobs supposedly in business process outsourcing companies in Thailand and Cambodia, but found themselves working in cryptocurrency scam operations.

A Senate probe has shown that the crime rings force their foreign trafficking victims not only to operate scams but also to work long hours, with their movements restricted and their passports confiscated. Those who resist working or attempt to flee are subjected to beatings and verbal abuse.

Authorities have advised the public to be wary of illegal recruitment through social messaging and even dating apps, and to coordinate with the Department of Migrant Workers before signing up for overseas employment. Probers are also working to ferret out immigration employees reportedly colluding with human traffickers.

The skills required for these jobs require a certain level of education that should make potential recruits aware of the risks of human trafficking. But the involvement of fellow Filipinos in the recruitment plus the promises of attractive pay and benefits probably help dispel fears of potential victims. Authorities