By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intensified its campaign against human trafficking, particularly schemes that lure overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) into illegal employment and force them to work in online scam hubs abroad.
Speaking at the Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel forum at Luneta Park, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Filipinos seeking overseas jobs through irregular channels face significant risks, often resulting in their being offloaded at airports due to incomplete or fraudulent documents.
“Many OFWs want to leave illegally and many are also offloaded due to lack of paperwork using some recruitment agencies,” she said, noting tighter border controls and passenger screening.
Sandoval said the BI is strengthening coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and other government agencies to curb illegal recruitment and dismantle trafficking networks.
“These efforts are aimed at stopping syndicates that exploit job seekers through deceptive offers and unauthorized deployment,” she said.
She added many victims are recruited through online advertisements promising high-paying jobs, only to be trafficked into scam operations overseas.
Government data show that trafficking linked to scam hubs remains a persistent regional problem, with victims often subjected to threats, passport confiscation, and forced labor in so-called “fraud factories.”
“Dozens of Filipinos have been rescued or repatriated from such operations, underscoring the need for stronger prevention and public awareness campaigns,” Sandoval said during the forum. (PNA)
