2 PINAYS DEPORTED FROM SABAH ARRIVED IN ZAMBOANGA

TWO Filipina deportees from Sandakan, Sabah arrived in Zamboanga, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers assigned at the Zamboanga International Seaport (ZIS) reported.

According to BI Immigration Border Protection and Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) ZIS Terminal head Usman Sabdani, the two Pinays arrived on  January 25 on board MV Antonia I.

However,  it was found out that two have been trafficked to Malaysia, with one of them being recruited via social media.

One of the female victims left with her ex-partner, a Malaysian national, bound for Kota Kinabalu. She ended up working illegally to help her partner, but was later arrested after a raid done by authorities.

“Hindi ko po kaya sa loob ng kulungan, ang hirap talaga. Sa totoo lang po, noon pa man gusto ko nang umuwi ng Pilipinas,” she recounted.

The other victim shared that her travel was facilitated by her recruiter, who flew with her to Malaysia in the guise of being legitimate tourists. She admitted to having been recruited via Facebook, and ended up as a restaurant worker.

“Nasuspinde po ako sa trabaho at mahigit three days po akong hindi pinalabas sa quarters namin,” said the female victim.

“Hindi ko na din po kaya mag work doon,” she added, sharing that the strenuous work schedule left her physically weakened.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco again reminded aspiring overseas Filipino workers not to accept offers of traffickers and illegal recruiters.

“These offers of illegal recruiters to facilitate your travel would only increase your vulnerabilities of exploitation,” said Tansingco.

“We remind aspiring OFWs to only accept offers through legitimate channels, through the Department of Migrant Workers,” the BI chief added.