MANILA, Philippines — Immigration officers at Manila’s main international airport intercepted four Filipinos suspected of being trafficking victims bound for work in Russia, including one promised citizenship and bonuses for military service, authorities said.
The travelers were stopped in separate incidents on Sept. 18 and 19 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 after primary inspectors flagged their travel itineraries for secondary questioning, according to the Bureau of Immigration’s protection and border enforcement unit.
In the first incident, three men who gave their destinations as Thailand were pulled aside for further review. One of the men, identified by authorities by the alias “Aldo,” 30, admitted under questioning that Russia was his final destination. Aldo told officers he had responded to a Facebook advertisement offering a security guard position paying 70,000 pesos ($1,200) a month. His companions, identified as “Nery,” 41, and “Baby,” 38, reported being recruited by a contact in Bangkok and sponsored by an individual named “Alexander.”
The following day, officers intercepted a 34-year-old traveler identified as “King” boarding a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Vietnam. Officials said King admitted he was headed to Russia to join military forces after being promised 150,000 pesos ($2,600) a month, expedited Russian citizenship within a year, and additional bonuses for completing a “special mission.” King carried a concealed Russian visa, and his travel expenses had been paid by third parties.
All four individuals were transferred to the government’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for investigation and protective assistance.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado cautioned jobseekers against unregulated overseas employment schemes, noting that lucrative offers circulating on social media often serve as fronts for illegal recruitment. He urged prospective migrant workers to confirm all foreign employment offers through the Department of Migrant Workers and its accredited recruiters before departing the country.
