Immigration officer arrested for alleged human trafficking scheme

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Authorities arrested an immigration officer after he allegedly allowed human trafficking recruits to pass in exchange for money, specifically P40,000 each.

In a "24 Oras" report from John Consulta on Thursday, security footage from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) showed a woman going through an immigration officer who was on duty.

The immigration check is allegedly part of an alleged human trafficking scheme.

The woman, who was to be recruited into the scheme, was already in contact with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after she started to suspect that something was off.

When the woman was recruited, she was instructed by a suspected syndicate on how to proceed with the immigration officer. Once the woman came face to face with the designated immigration officer, she was instructed to just give him a look.

“Tinanong niya ako kailan ang balik ko.So wala po akong nasagot kasi hindi ko po alam. And then siya na rin po sumagot sabi niya September 15. After po noon kinindatan niya ako. Pagkakindat niya po sa akin, tinatakan niya ang passport ko,” the woman said.

(He asked me when I was coming back. So I could not say anything because I do not know. And then he was the one to respond, he said September 15. Then he winked at me. After he winked at me, he stamped my passport.)

Once the recruit passed through, the NBI Dangerous Drugs Division and the NBI Human Trafficking Division arrested the immigration officer.

Other than the sketch that was given to the recruit on how to navigate immigration, authorities also recovered texts that told recruits where to go once they leave the country.

The woman told the NBI that they were offered to become call center agents in Thailand that had a monthly salary of P50,000.

However, she became suspicious when she was told to carry a bag during her flight.

“She was trying to back out from the employment but later, nung tinakot siya na pagbabayaran siya ng P20,000 yata, or if hindi siya tutuloy, tinakot siya na may paglalagyan siya. She found the courage to report that to us,” NBI Dangerous Drugs Division Chief Ross Jonathan Galicia said.

(She was trying to back out from the employment but later, when she was threatened that she needed to pay around P20,000 or if she did not continue with it, she would be put somewhere. She found the courage to report that to us.)

The NBI said the immigration officer was to allow five recruits to pass through his counter that day. He was to receive P40,000 for each of them.

Once they get to Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong, someone will arrange for them to be transported to Cambodia so that they could work in a scam hub.

“They have developed an ecosystem to do human trafficking. Wala ng usap, pagdating mo sa counter, hindi na magsasalita ang victim, magtititigan. Ang instruction, titigan mo lang yung immigration officer, tapos magkikindatan, tapos na. ‘Yan ang transaction,” NBI Director Melvin Matibag said.

(They have developed an ecosystem to do human trafficking. There was no talking, when you get to the counter, the victim does not need to speak, just stare. The instruction is just look at the immigration officer then after they wink, it is done. That was the transaction.)

While only one immigration officer was caught, six people will be charged with qualified human trafficking, including several employees of the Bureau of Immigration. Authorities were able to rescue two recruits that the immigration officer had allowed to pass.

Another recruit has returned from Malaysia, while authorities are still looking for two others. — Jean Mangaluz/BAP, GMA News