Four Filipino trafficked women were deported from South Korea and have returned to the country, officers of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) reported.
The BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) reported to Commissioner Norman Tansingco the deportation of the four females last June 19.
The victims arrived aboard a Jeju Air flight from South Korea after being detained for working illegally as entertainers without the necessary work visa in that region.
According to the victims, they were deceived into a scheme by a Filipino who instructed them to meet a Korean national to handle their documents processing.
“Inalok ako ng trabaho bilang entertainer at nagbigay ng instruction na makipagkita sa isang Koreano upang ibigay ang kailangang requirements,” one the victims disclosed.
Investigation revealed that the victims used the mobile phone app Telegram to communicate with their recruiters who offered them jobs as entertainers in a bar, promising a monthly salary of Php80,000 until their 59-day tourist visas expired.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco revealed that due to their illicit circumstances, they exceeded their allowed stay and were consequently apprehended by Korean authorities.
“Pagdating sa Korea, two weeks kaming nag trabaho bilang entertainer. Ang isang kasamahan naming Thailand national, na may asawang Koreano, ay nag subong. Pagkatapos, kami ay nadetain nang halos isang lingo,’’ the other victim said.
“These women suffered exploitation, and they ended up detained without receiving their rightful wages, all due to deceptive schemes of illegal recruoters,” Tansingco said.
“We remind the public to be always on guard, as these deceitful recruiters paint a rosy picture of hope but often leave you in despair. If something feels off or seems too good to be true, trust your instincts,” Tansingco added.
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