8 trafficking victims rescued at Clark airport; recruiter nabbed

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested an alleged human trafficker and rescued eight of her victims who were recruited to work in Israel despite the ongoing crisis there as they attempted to depart from the Clark International Airport (CIA) Terminal 2 in Pampanga. 

In a press statement issued Friday, the BI protection and border enforcement section (I-PROBES) said the perpetrator attempted to board an Emirates Airlines flight with the victims "in the guise of a pilgrimage to the said country."

However, the victims later admitted they were recruited to work as hospital and hotel cleaners upon their arrival in Israel. They were promised monthly salaries of P60,000 to P80,000.

The recruiter worked as a travel agent, the BI said, promising the victims that they would be deployed "in a safer part of Israel."

To recall, the Philippines placed Israel under Alert Level 2 following the attack of Palestinian militant group Hamas last year.

The DFA said last week that Alert Level 2 remained for Israel following the retaliatory strike of Iran.

Under Alert Level 2, the BI said, only returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with existing employment contracts are allowed to go back to their destination and resume their employment in Israel.

"All for money, this recruiter has made her victims agree to such circumstances despite the major life risk," said BI Commissioner Tansingco.

"She should face what she did in court and must be jailed to serve as an example not to prey on the vulnerabilities of our fellow Filipinos," he said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News