MikeLigalig.com

By the Bohol Chronicle

The Aviation Security Group stationed at the City Airport has warned women in the towns to be extra careful in accepting offers for job opportunities to avoid becoming victims of human trafficking.

After allegedly intercepting a job recruiter who took nine women, all 18 years old, at the city airport Wednesday last week, Police Senior Inspector Donatila Sotto suspects young female Boholanas could be the target of human trafficking syndicates operating from Manila.

In a spot report submitted to Bohol Police Provincial Director SSupt. Edgardo Ingking, Aviation Security Station Chief Sotto said nine women, all residents of Getafe town, were intercepted with their recruiter last Wednesday when they were about to board a Cebu Pacific flight for Manila.

The nine female passengers were already on their way to the pre-departure area at the City Airport when they were spotted by S/Insp. Sotto.

"The women were last to board the plane and I called them all for an interview," Sotto said.

However, when the aviation police chief asked the women to show her their identification cards and birth certificates, they could not present any.
         

Sotto then asked their recruiter to present the documents she was requesting but also could not show any of the documents.

According to Sotto, she immediately called up the office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here to inform them about the nine female passengers, who later bared they were all aged 18 and were from the town of Getafe.

Sotto said her calls to the local DSWD offices resulted to nothing as she was "referred" to several personnel and offices.

"I did call all the numbers referred to me by the DSWD but still the same procedure of turning over to several different persons," Sotto said.

It came to a point when the aviation police chief was instructed by DSWD personnel to check with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regarding the legitimacy of the recruiter and the recruitment agency.

Sotto temporarily held the nine women as she also called up the Getafe Police Station to check on the recruiter who identified himself as one Dionisio Anzano, 60, a resident of Campao Oriental, Getafe and an agent of Bernardino Employment Agency.

Since the Getafe PNP could not immediately check on the identities of the recruiter and the nine women, she "had no choice" but to allow the nine women and their alleged recruiter to board the plane.

However, the aviation police chief was able to take photos of the women and Anzano.

According to Sotto, based on information she gathered after the incident, there were other similar occasions that a group of young female passengers were accompanied by a recruiter bound for Manila.

Sotto requested that a Women's Desk be set up at the city airport with additional personnel to monitor human trafficking and other related crimes.

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