Three Filipinos who are suspected victims of human trafficking were recently barred from traveling to Ethiopia as tourists.

The Bureau of Immigration said the three men, all in their early 40s and late 30s, initially claimed to be tourists bound for Hong Kong while they were being interviewed by immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on August 5.

The three men claimed to be employed in the construction industry in the Philippines and were each traveling alone for a vacation.

But they later admitted they were bound for Ethiopia for employment.

“The victims said they were promised high-paying jobs but were instructed to pose as tourists,” the BI said in a press release on Monday.

“The trio were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance in filing cases against their recruiter,” it added.