BI removes 7 NAIA staff over worker trafficking

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) removed seven personnel from their posts at Ninoy Aquino International Airport for suspected involvement in trafficking Filipino workers, a move aligned with President Marcos' directive to eliminate corruption and strengthen border security.

These employees, stationed at NAIA Terminals 1 and 3, are under investigation for allegedly helping at least 200 trafficking victims leave the country illegally; if found guilty, they face cases before the Department of Justice.

Victims rescued from online scam syndicates in Myanmar returned to Manila on Tuesday via a Philippine Airlines flight, with an additional batch arriving Wednesday morning, while three were repatriated earlier this month from Cambodia.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado noted that traffickers often recruit individuals through social media and exploit every possible loophole for illegal travel, making it difficult for immigration officers to identify potential victims; investigations revealed the victims had no official record of departure and their passports were stamped with fake Philippine departure marks.

In 2024, the BI intercepted 1,093 trafficking victims and referred them to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation, emphasizing the need for a whole-of-government approach to combat human trafficking effectively.