De Lima seeks probe on alleged human trafficking operations at NAIA

Detained Senator Leila de Lima has asked the Senate to conduct probe on the alleged human trafficking operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

In Senate Resolution 1038, filed April 29, De Lima said the numerous trafficking incidents in the country requires serious attention from the government and civil society organizations because it promotes and perpetuates modern-day slavery.

“These continuous and repeated incidences of human trafficking victimize many of our workers, especially women, and minors who are promised better lives abroad. It likewise promotes and perpetuates modern day slavery,” she said.

She said the immigration officers and other state actors who were accused of human trafficking “must be a subject of an unbiased probe and they must also be brought to justice to be held administratively and criminally accountable for their acts.

“Congress, through relevant legislation, must swiftly and effectively improve anti-human trafficking laws and immigration laws, with the goal of stamping out corruption among concerned agencies, like the Bureau of Immigration,” she added. 

Last March 30, Immigration agents reportedly intercepted 18 women and 12 men believed to be victims of human trafficking. Those intercepted, who all initially claimed to visit a relative in Dubai, eventually admitted they were going to work abroad upon questioning by the BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit.

De Lima also cited in the resolution the claims of Ramon Tulfo, special envoy to China, on the alleged involvement of middle-level Immigration officials in the human trafficking syndicate. —LDF, GMA News