An employee of NAIA has been arrested due to human trafficking
HUMAN TRAFFICKING – An employee of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has been arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) after attempting to facilitate the departure of three alleged victims of human trafficking bound for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Based on the investigation, the incident took place at NAIA-Terminal 3 on December 22. According to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the staff member was observed accompanying the three victims at the Immigration counter. “Immigration supervisors promptly intervened, signaling that such actions were unauthorized and against protoco,” said Tansingco.
The three victims were blocked from departing and are currently under investigation. They claim to have been going on vacation to the UAE. The NAIA employee is now in the custody of the authorities.
According to reports, the three individuals were allegedly recruited through the social media platform Facebook to work as household service workers in the UAE. As of now, the case is still under investigation by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
Meanwhile, human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights involving the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of individuals through force, coercion, or deception for exploitation. Victims, often vulnerable individuals, are subjected to various forms of abuse, including forced labor, sexual exploitation, and involuntary servitude.
Perpetrators exploit power imbalances, preying on the marginalized, and trafficking victims can be adults or children. This criminal activity occurs globally, transcending borders and affecting millions. It fuels organized crime and generates substantial illicit profits.
Governments, international organizations, and NGOs collaborate to combat human trafficking through legal frameworks, awareness campaigns, victim support, and law enforcement efforts. Eradicating this heinous crime requires a comprehensive and concerted effort to address its root causes and protect the rights and dignity of those at risk.