Senator Tulfo – Ilang OFW, nabiktima ng human trafficking; nakaranas ng harassment... | Unang Balita

Summary

Senator Raffi Tulfo has reported to the Philippine Senate that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are being lured and trafficked through a dangerous backdoor exit route. Tulfo detailed a harrowing journey where OFWs were promised jobs in Europe with a hefty placement fee. Instead, they were subjected to a perilous voyage, including a boat trip where one female OFW was threatened with being thrown overboard. The victims were extorted for more money, falsely accused of drug possession, and their families were contacted for additional funds. The case has been referred to the Senate committees on Labor and Justice and Human Rights for investigation.

Takeaways

• 🛑 Human trafficking incidents involving OFWs being smuggled out of the Philippines are no longer new, according to Senator Raffy Tulfo.
• 👮 Senator Tulfo recounted in the Senate the harassment experienced by some OFWs who were victims of human trafficking.
• 💰 The traffickers offered jobs in Europe in exchange for a 400,000 peso placement fee.
• ✈️ The OFWs' journey began on August 6 with a commercial flight from Manila to Zamboanga, and continued on August 7 from Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi.
• 🛶 On August 8, the victims traveled by boat, where one female OFW was harassed by the boatman, fearing she would be thrown overboard if she resisted.
• 🌍 The victims eventually reached Saba, Malaysia, before continuing to Kuala Lumpur and then Thailand.
• 📞 Realizing the danger they were in, the OFWs contacted their recruiter, who gave various excuses and even tried to extort more money from them.
• 🚨 The victims eventually called their families, as they were being threatened by their recruiter, who claimed they had left drugs in their luggage.
• 🙏 Senator Tulfo and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) intervened, rescuing the OFWs from the situation.
• ⚖️ The case has been referred to the Senate Committee on Labor and the Committee on Justice and Human Rights for further investigation.

Q & A

What issue did Senator Raffi Tulfo discuss in his Senate speech?

Senator Raffi Tulfo discussed the issue of human trafficking and illegal recruitment of OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) who were harassed and smuggled out of the Philippines through backdoor exits.

What method was used by human traffickers to smuggle the OFWs out of the Philippines?

The traffickers used a backdoor route that started with a commercial flight from Manila to Zamboanga, followed by a flight to Tawi-Tawi, and then a boat trip to Sabah, Malaysia. The victims were then taken to Kuala Lumpur and eventually to Thailand.

How did the traffickers deceive the OFWs regarding job offers?

The traffickers promised job opportunities in Europe in exchange for a placement fee of 400,000 pesos. However, they used illegal means to transport the OFWs out of the Philippines.

What form of harassment did one of the OFWs experience during the journey?

One of the female OFWs was sexually harassed by the boatman during the trip, as he touched her inappropriately. She feared being thrown into the sea and couldn’t resist.

What happened when the victims realized the danger they were in?

The victims contacted their recruiter when they realized the danger, but the recruiter gave them various excuses and demanded more money to supposedly resolve the situation.

What threats did the recruiter make to the OFWs?

The recruiter threatened the OFWs, claiming that they would face serious problems because their luggage supposedly contained illegal drugs.

How were the OFWs eventually rescued from their situation?

The case was reported to Senator Raffi Tulfo and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), who helped rescue the OFWs from the traffickers.

What actions are being taken to investigate this human trafficking case?

The case has been referred to the Senate’s Committee on Labor and Committee on Justice and Human Rights for further investigation.

What is the significance of this human trafficking case according to Senator Tulfo?

Senator Tulfo emphasized that this is just one of many similar cases of human trafficking, and more OFWs are likely being victimized by illegal recruiters.

What was the outcome of the victims' attempt to contact their families?

The victims eventually contacted their families, who were alerted about the threats and demands made by the recruiter. This communication helped escalate the issue to Senator Tulfo and the authorities.