Joel Anthony Viado, the Director of the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines, recently expressed concern about the media reports of 54 Filipino human trafficking victims repatriated from Myanmar, noting that they might have secretly left the country through illegal exit points in the south.
Viado emphasized that trafficking groups exploit the backdoor passages of southern Philippines, using small boats to smuggle victims abroad. He called on relevant departments to enhance surveillance to align with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s policy of strengthening border security.
He stated, "This might just be the tip of the iceberg. We must face this issue and take immediate action to prevent more Filipinos from falling into the traps of trafficking groups."
The Bureau of Immigration had previously commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) for arresting a suspect known as "Fiona" in Zamboanga, who allegedly assisted victims in illegally exiting the country via waterways. Additionally, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested another suspect named "Jon Jon," one of the 206 individuals repatriated from a scam center in Mawlamyine, Myanmar. Initially, Jon Jon claimed to be a victim, but investigations revealed that he was actually a recruiter for the scam company.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking recently released a study report on illegal human trafficking and maritime smuggling of migrants, recommending that local government units (LGUs) and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) strengthen surveillance in high-risk areas.
Viado also proposed that the legislative body should consider imposing legal sanctions on illegal exit activities. He pointed out that currently, there are no specific laws in the Philippines against illegal exits, and related cases are usually classified under crimes such as forgery or tampering with passports. "If illegal exit is formally classified as a crime, it will deter trafficking organizations effectively and make potential victims more cautious," Viado added.
The Philippine government is intensifying efforts to combat human trafficking, with hopes that law enforcement actions and legal measures will be further strengthened to protect citizens from criminals.
