What's Happening?

BI trains 147 new officers, intensifies campaign against human trafficking

by Izel Abanilla

PUBLISHED ON April 19, 2023

The Bureau of Immigration announced that it will be deploying 147 new immigration officers (IO) for on-site training at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) starting April 24.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the new officers would boost the agency’s manpower at the country’s premiere airport at the height of the travel season this summer.

“This action will help improve our service to the traveling public during this time, as well as ensure that immigration protocols are carried out properly against trafficking threats,” Tansingco said in a statement on Wednesday, April 19.

Upon the completion of their training, these immigration officers will be deployed in various airports and BI offices nationwide.

They will also undergo training to improve both their hard and soft skills.

“Apart from theoretical trainings, we want to increase our trainings in other skills, like communication and conflict resolution, which are very important in the conduct of their duties,” he added.

Intensified campaign against human trafficking

Despite social media attacks, the BI said it would intensify their campaign against human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

“I have instructed our officers to keep doing their duties with dignity and patriotism. Social media ridicule will not deter us from performing our mandate to combat human trafficking in our ports, Tansingco said.

“There will be no letup in our campaign so long as these traffickers and illegal recruiters continue to prey on our countrymen, who are sent to work abroad without proper documents and protection from the government,” he added.

The BI chief said that human smuggling syndicates could be behind the smear campaign against the agency in the belief that such a move will relax government efforts against human trafficking.

Over the past days, the BI has intercepted several attempts at human trafficking.

In a statement, the agency reported that recently, passengers were posing as tourists but admitted they were in fact recruited to work as household help in Dubai.

The BI has also uncovered a scheme of faking religion to illegally send Filipinos abroad as domestic helpers.

Two women who posed as Muslim were intercepted by immigration officers as they were departing the country for Dubai. Apparently, they were planning to travel by bus to Saudi Arabia to participate in Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage.

However, BI officers spotted inconsistencies in their statement prompting the victims to admit they were recruited by a woman they only met on Facebook.

With these cases, Tansingco reminded the public not to fall prey to illegal recruiters and human traffickers.

“Walang maloloko kung walang magpapaloko,” said Tansingco.

“There are already a ton of information available about the modus operandi of these syndicates. Do not be the next victim,” he added.