BI officers rescue 3 women recruited for Singapore jobs

Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers rescued three female victims of human trafficking at the Davao International Airport who were recruited to work as entertainers in Singapore.

The victims, two in their 20s and one 18-year-old, were intercepted while attempting to board a Scoot Airlines flight to Singapore.

They initially claimed to be traveling for a holiday, but further verification confirmed that they had been recruited to work as entertainers abroad.

Two of the victims were from Luzon and traveled to Davao for the trip, with one explaining that a neighbor introduced her to a Manila-based contact for recruitment.

The victims were told that expenses of 5,000 SGD would be deducted from their salaries, which BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado described as a form of debt bondage and human trafficking.

The victims were turned over to the inter-agency council against trafficking in Davao, and authorities are investigating possible recruiters and immigration personnel involved.