INANUNSYO ng Bureau of Immigration (BI) na siyam na Pilipino na biktima ng human trafficking ang iniligtas at pinabalik na ng bansa.
Ang mga ito ay pinauwi ng dalawang batches mula sa Malaysia at Thailand.
“Like other cases of human trafficking in the Southeast Asian region, the victims were transported to Mae Sot City, Myanmar to be forced to work in online love scams and crypto rings,” ayon kay BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
Ang mga biktima ay dumanas ng physical torture dahil sa hindi nila maabot ang quota at idiniditine hangga’t hindi sila nakakabayad bago i-release.
“We always hear the stories of our repatriated kababayans – each story worse after the other. It is gut-wrenching hearing how they suffered. One of them shared how their parents had to sell their farm land to produce a large-sum of money just to be given to those criminals.” Ayon sa BI chief.
“Imagine the mental and emotional torture the victims and their families went through. That is not something one easily recovers from.” dagdag pa nito.
Ang ibang batch ay kabilang sa tatlong pasahero na umalis sa Malaysia sa pamamagitan ng bangka patungo sa Zamboanga at Tawi-Tawi via boat through Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi na nagtrabaho bilang mga massage therapist na nauwi sa sex work sa isang spa.
“Sex trafficking is a direct attack to one’s rights and dignity. It is dangerous, degrading, and is exploitative of women and children.” ayon sa BI Chief.
Muling nanawagan si Tansingco sa publiko na huwag kumagat sa human trafficking schemes.
“Securing documents to work abroad might be tedious, but it also protects aspiring overseas Filipino workers against illegal recruitment and other hazards abroad,” ayon sa BI Chief.. “Remember that the security measures imposed by the government are in place as we prefer prevention over repatriation,” dagdag pa ni Tansingco.
PAUL ROLDAN