The Manila Times
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has raised the alarm over a trend of recruiting Filipino men online to work as soldiers abroad under deceptive and high-risk schemes. The Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-Probes) issued the warning following a series of interceptions at the country’s major airports in recent weeks as authorities intensify efforts to curb human trafficking and illegal recruitment to protect Filipinos from exploitation overseas. In a report to Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, the I-Probes said that on March 31, a 52-year-old Filipino was stopped at NAIA Terminal 3 after attempting to leave the country disguised as a tourist. Immigration officers grew suspicious after spotting inconsistencies in his statements during primary inspection. The victim was referred to the I-Probes, where he eventually admitted the real purpose of his trip: he had been recruited to serve in a foreign military. The victim, an army reservist, said recruiters contacted him through Facebook and instructed him to pose as a tourist to avoid detection. He was lured by a lucrative offer — a monthly salary of $2,500 and a hefty $25,000 signing bonus. Just a day later, two more men, aged 38 and 39, were intercepted at Clark International Airport before boarding a flight to Bangkok. Initially claiming they were on vacation, the pair later confessed they had also been recruited online to work as soldiers abroad. They were promised $1,500 in monthly pay and a $30,000 joining bonus. Recruiters contacted them through a Facebook group and continued communication via WhatsApp, directing them to travel to Thailand and await further instructions. On April 5, two more victims, aged 49 and 50, were stopped at NAIA Terminal 3 while attempting to depart via Ethiopia on a similar arrangement. On April 12, another 51-year-old man was intercepted at NAIA Terminal 1 after attempting to leave for China, also under the guise of tourist travel but ultimately bound for military work abroad. Authorities said these cases point to a coordinated and dangerous recruitment network exploiting social media platforms to lure Filipinos into potentially life-threatening roles in undisclosed locations. Extreme danger Viado warned that such schemes place victims in extreme danger, with little to no protection or legal safeguards. “Our officers remain vigilant in detecting these schemes at our borders. These interceptions likely saved lives,” Viado said, stressing that the promises of high pay and bonuses are often used to mask the real risks involved. He described the trend as “deeply alarming,” noting that recruiters deliberately obscure key details about the job, including the exact location, nature of duties, and legal status of employment. The BI urged the public to exercise extreme caution when encountering overseas job offers — especially those involving “security” or “military” roles that lack proper documentation or are arranged informally through social media. All intercepted individuals will be turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for assistance, while authorities are working to track down and prosecute those behind the recruitment network.
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