Gonzalez Orders Crackdown on Human Traffickers
January 3, 2005
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to unmask the identity of persons involved in the trafficking and smuggling of young women to Hongkong.
Secretary Gonzalez acted upon a report of the Philippine Consulate General in Hongkong that shows an increasing number of cases involving human trafficking and smuggling of persons into Hong Kong from the Philippines. He has ordered immigration agents at all exit points in the country to strictly scrutinize passports of these young girls before boarding Hong Kong-bound aircraft and make routinary checks of all passports after they have boarded the plane to find out whether the so-called “working visas” are attached to these passports.
In his memorandum to Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez, Jr., the Justice Chief cited the report that Filipinas are offered jobs in Hong Kong bars as receptionists and entertainers and are instructed to enter Hong Kong as tourists. They are given “show money” in case they will be required to demonstrate their financial capacity to travel. Recruiter agents have ready working visas for these girls which are attached to their passports after boarding the plane for Hong Kong. Three (3) persons named “Bell”, “Inday” and “Tess” are reported to be the main recruiters.
The report further stated that the girls in Hong Kong are brought to boarding houses where they are given “orientations” or “lectures” and are also asked to take drugs. Their work starts at 6 p.m. in the bars and they are required to entice at least seven (7) customers a night. They are brought inside small dark rooms where anything can happen. Some girls have abandoned their work, and those who refuse to cooperate are asked to pay some Php40,000.00 before they are allowed to go. The Hong Kong Consulate reports that on a daily basis, ten (10) to twenty (20) Filipinas enter Hong Kong based on this scheme.
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