Philippines—Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 3 intercepted a Korean man escorting five suspected trafficking victims last May 17.
According to the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement (I-PROBES), the 34-year-old Korean national attempted to depart with his victims to Armenia transiting through the United Arab Emirates.
The names of the suspect and the victims have been withheld in compliance with current anti-trafficking laws.
The victims initially claimed to be traveling to Armenia for a seminar, but later admitted to have been illegally recruited to work as customer service representatives and promised a salary of 267,533 Armenian dram or around P40,000.
The Korean man admitted to be affiliated with a recruitment agency, but claimed he was just "helping out" his friends.
A check of the Korean’s records show that he has previously sponsored another group of Filipinos allegedly for a seminar, but the group has not returned to this date.
The Korean was found to have a permanent residence visa in the Philippines, as he was married to a Filipina.
All six passengers were turned over to the inter-agency council against trafficking for filing of appropriate charges against the escort and assistance for the 5 victims.
The I-PROBES has also recommended that the visa of the Korean man be revoked and immigration charges be filed against him.
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