12 Malaysia-bound Pinays stopped from leaving Zamboanga port

Immigration officers have intercepted 12 Filipinas whom they suspected of being victims of human trafficking from leaving the international seaport in Zamboanga City.

The women were stopped from boarding a passenger ship bound for Sandakan, Malaysia last December 17 because they could not explain their reason for travel nor provide their itinerary, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said in a statement Tuesday.

Immigration inspectors deferred the passengers' departure after they noticed "glaring inconsistencies" in their answers to interview questions, the bureau said.

The BI said the incident was an attempt by trafficking syndicates to spirit their victims out of the country.

Immigration chief Jaime Morente urged BI personnel to remain vigilant.

“We should not relax our guard amid repeated attempts by these syndicates to undermine our campaign against human trafficking that prey on our poor countrymen,” Morente said in the statement.

“They are relentless in their schemes despite the holiday season,” he added.

The 12 passengers have been turned over to the Zamboanga Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force, an inter-agency body that includes the BI.

Morente said immigration officers at the Zamboanga port are on the alert to ensure the country's southern borders will not be used by syndicates to illegally transport Filipino victims to Malaysia. —Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/KG, GMA News