Philippine Immigration

Immigration officers at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) have barred a total of 864 passengers from leaving the country on suspicion of being “tourist workers” or undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) disguised as tourists, it was learned yesterday.

In his report to Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, Romeo Dime, BI’s regional director at DMAI, disclosed that most of the OFWs were offloaded for not having the required clearances from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) although their purpose in going abroad is to work.

“Most of them presented bogus documents such as fake letters of invitation or affidavits of support from their alleged friends and relatives in the countries where they intended to go and work,” Dime said.

He added that nearly all of the OFWs were bound for Malaysia and are believed to be victims of illegal recruitment syndicates.

Libanan issued an order to immigration officers at the DMIA to be always vigilant and implement the ban on the departure of undocumented OFWs.

Libanan said was alarmed by reports that the former Clark Air Base was being used by illegal recruiters and human traffickers as the major exit point for their victims.

He also cited reports that some of these illegal recruitment victims end up as prostitutes or become victims of abuse in their countries of destination.

“We shall continue to tighten our watch in DMIA to protect our OFWs, especially our women, from harm’s way,” Libanan said.

Last week, a composite team of policemen and BI operatives led by Vice President Noli de Castro intercepted five women before they could board their flight to Kuala Lumpur.

The women later admitted upon questioning that they were were going to work as domestic helpers in Malaysia and that they are not tourists as they initially claimed.

It was gathered that the operation was carried after informants tipped authorities about the scheduled flight of the women who were allegedly hired by illegal recruiters. (BI News)