THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has foiled an attempt by a human trafficker to smuggle eight Filipinos to Israel despite the ongoing crisis in the area.
According to the BI Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), the female trafficker attempted to depart with the victims on board an Emirates airlines flight at the Clark International Airport (CIA) Terminal 2 in the guise of a pilgrimage to Israel.
The victims later admitted that they will work as hospital and hotel cleaners upon their arrival in Israel, with a promised monthly salary of P60,000 to P80,000.
Last year, the Philippines placed Israel under crisis Alert level 2, wherein only returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with existing employment contracts are allowed to go back to their destination and resume their employment.
The recruiter reportedly worked as a travel agent and enticed the victims to work in Israel.
One of the victims recounted how their agent promised that they will be employed “in a safer part of Israel.’
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco condemned the scheme, saying the recruiter should be placed behind bars for putting her victims in harm’s way.
The recruiter and the eight victims were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for proper disposition.
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