The Philippine Embassy in
With the implementation of stricter anti-trafficking
measures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other airports,
illegal recruitment syndicates have sent those wishing to work overseas to
Zamboanga or Tawi-Tawi and then cross-over to Sabah for their onward
destinations in Dubai
“Being made to exit via Zamboanga or Tawi-Tawi is a sure
tell-tale sign of illegal trafficking and should ring alarm bells to
job-seekers, otherwise, they risk apprehension by Sabah authorities for unauthorized
entry or fall victim to sex and other traffickers along the way,” the Embassy
said.
“Proper employment visas issued by the embassy or consulate
in Manila of their destination country and work permits processed by the
Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) are generally required before a
Filipino can depart for work overseas. If the job offer requires the applicant
to exit through Mindanao , it is most likely a
human trafficking ploy,” the Embassy added.
Meanwhile, the Embassy lauded the announcement of the Bureau
of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente to deploy more Immigration officers
and intelligence agents to six stations in Mindanao and Palawan .
This is in view of reports of the entry and presence of
foreign terrorists in Mindanao , and that
victims of human trafficking are being spirited out of the country via the
backdoor with the help of syndicates and illegal recruiters.
One such case is about a Filipina who was offered a job as a
domestic helper in Dubai by a certain Layes
Lynian of Al Eternad Labor Supply company based in Manila
According to her husband who alerted the Embassy, the
Filipina and other recruits were made to go to Zamboanga, and then boarded a
ferry to Sandakan in Sabah .
Upon arrival there, the Filipina and her companions were
apprehended by Sabah authorities and
incarcerated.
The Embassy is extending assistance to these Filipinas.
Fifteen Filipinas also seeking work in Dubai
who crossed over to Sandakan
They were charged in court and meted sentences ranging from
four to 10 months in prison and payment of fines. The Embassy is working on
reducing their time in prison.
According to one of the Filipinas, they were recruited to
work as household service workers via Facebook by a certain Flordeliza Flores
Eborde, who referred them to a Ms. Venus, whom can be contacted only through
mobile phone.
Ms. Venus instructed them to go to Palawan .
From Brooke’s Point in Palawan , the Filipina
was made to board a motorboat to Mapun in Tawi-Tawi.
There, she and seven others were transferred on a speedboat
to travel to Sabah with an agent/guide known
as Mr. Jomar or Dumar Kasim.
They were apprehended in Sandakan
by Sabah authorities while they were awaiting onward transportation to Dubai
Immigration regulations are strictly enforced in Sabah , and a night-time curfew is in place in the waters
off the said area.
“We have seen all too often these sad cases of job seekers
who end in a foreign jail or in the hands of sex traffickers. These are risks
not worth taking,” the Embassy said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=917254
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