The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intercepted a 50-year-old Filipino man allegedly recruited for a security-related job in Russia after he attempted to leave the country through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
The man was stopped on Oct. 10 while preparing to board a Cathay Pacific flight to Vietnam, the BI said in a statement warning Filipinos against suspicious overseas employment offers linked to Russia.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said the passenger disclosed during questioning that Russia was his intended work destination and that he had been recruited as a K9 handler.
According to the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section, the man had been contacted through WhatsApp and spoken with the recruiter through a voice call before receiving his travel documents.
He was reportedly offered a monthly salary of USD3,500 without upfront recruitment fees but was instructed to pose as a tourist to conceal his intended employment from immigration authorities.
The BI subsequently referred him to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for assistance and further assessment of the alleged recruitment scheme.
Viado urged Filipinos to exercise caution when considering overseas job offers, particularly those requiring applicants to misrepresent their travel purpose or hide their intended employment.
“Human trafficking can begin with what appears to be a legitimate job opportunity. Filipinos must remain alert to deceptive recruitment tactics and seek assistance from the proper authorities when an offer raises suspicion,” Viado said.
The BI advised aspiring overseas workers to verify job offers through the Department of Migrant Workers and ensure they have the required employment documents and work authorizations before leaving the country.
Comments