The Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines recently uncovered a suspicious case of departure to Pakistan at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, revealing the latest human trafficking method involving Chinese recruiters operating and Filipinos being lured overseas to engage in gambling.
The incident occurred on July 6, when a man and three women attempted to board Cebu Pacific flight 5J110 to Hong Kong but were stopped at the airport. Investigations revealed that their real destination was Pakistan, where they planned to work illegally for an online gambling-related company.
These Filipino citizens, aged between 30 and 40, initially claimed they were traveling to Hong Kong for tourism, but upon further verification, admitted they were recruited by a Chinese man, promising a monthly salary ranging from 35,000 to 45,000 pesos to work as chefs and cleaners in Pakistan. The recruiter not only covered their airfare but also instructed them to disguise themselves as tourists and wait for further arrangements upon arrival in Hong Kong.
Joel Anthony Vidal, the Director of the Immigration Bureau, pointed out that this case follows the same recruitment patterns as previous offshore gambling groups, showing that human trafficking groups are shifting their bases and changing strategies. He emphasized, "High salary temptations, false itineraries, and waiting for instructions are typical traps." He warned that the tactics of human trafficking groups are becoming more covert, and their destinations are increasingly diverse.
The case has now been transferred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for handling. The Immigration Bureau urges the public to be vigilant against any "job opportunities" that require hiding travel plans or forging identities, to avoid becoming victims in the illegal cross-border gambling chain.
