BI relieves 3rd personnel allegedly involved in trafficking activities

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has relieved another personnel at the Clark International Airport due to alleged involvement in human trafficking activities, Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Friday.

In an interview on Unang Balita, Sandoval said the third personnel has links to the illegal recruitment of Filipinos to work as crypto-scammers in Cambodia.

“Yesterday po during a meeting with BI heads at the airport, meron po isa ulit na pangalan na lumutang who is assigned at the Clark International Airport, so naging tatlo na po 'yung ating iniimbestigahan,” she said.

(The name of another individual who is assigned at the Clark International Airport came up during a meeting with BI heads at the airport yesterday, so we are now investigating three people.)

“Siguro nasa initial stages pa lang po tayo ng investigation so we can’t disclose too much about what we have seen but we received information that they might be linked to some human trafficking activities,” she added.

(We’re still at the initial stages of the investigation right now so we can’t disclose too much about what we have seen, but we received information that they might be linked to some human trafficking activities.)

On Thursday, Sandoval said that the BI has relieved two personnel from their post due to alleged human trafficking activities. One was stationed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport while the other was assigned to Clark.

Asked if the two personnel previously based in Clark are connected, Sandoval said it will be part of the investigation.

“Links between them are not yet confirmed but will be part of the investigation,” Sandoval said in a message to GMA News Online.

Sandoval said they will forward the case to the Department of Justice (DOJ) should the involvement of the personnel be confirmed.

“So kung makita po natin that indeed they are involved in such unscrupulous activities, ito pong kaso ay ipo-forward po natin sa DOJ para po sa filing ng appropriate administrative action against them,” she said.

(If we find out that they are involved in such unscrupulous activities, we will forward the case to the DOJ for the filing of administrative action against them.)

On Wednesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros said a human trafficking victim told her that she flew from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Thailand. From there, she was made to ride a van going to Cambodia.—AOL, GMA Integrated News