MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) relieved seven personnel from their post for suspected involvement in the trafficking of Filipino workers in Myanmar.

The employees, assigned to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3, are under investigation for allegedly facilitating the illegal departure of trafficking victims, who returned to the Philippines on March 25.

“If found guilty of assisting the victims, the employees will face charges before the Department of Justice,” the BI said in a statement.

The victims were rescued from online scam syndicates operating in Myanmar and arrived in Manila on a Philippine Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado acknowledged the challenge of identifying trafficking victims at airports, particularly those from affluent backgrounds who often disguise themselves as legitimate tourists.

“He said syndicates have adapted by recruiting individuals with clean travel records, making it harder for immigration officers to detect potential victims.”

In 2024, the BI intercepted 1,093 trafficking victims, all of whom were referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation and legal action against their recruiters.

Myanmar scam center survivors recall torture and coercion

Viado said the fight against human trafficking requires a whole-of-government approach to dismantle criminal networks, starting at the grassroots level.

He also warned that traffickers continue to exploit backdoor routes to evade stricter immigration controls.

Viado reiterated the need for strong border security and interagency cooperation to combat human trafficking.

Earlier this month, the BI reported the repatriation of three trafficking victims from Cambodia, who were forced to work in scam hubs.

Investigations revealed they had no official departure records, having been smuggled by boat from Jolo, Sulu, to Sabah, Malaysia, before traveling to Cambodia through Malaysia and Thailand.

“Traffickers are always looking for ways to evade detection,” Viado said.

“It is crucial that we remain vigilant and work together across agencies to stop these criminal activities.”

187 victims of Myanmar scam hubs to come home: DFA