THREE Filipinas who were reportedly trafficked to Malaysia through illegal maritime routes and forced into sex work were repatriated, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported.
It was learned from BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval that the three women, aged 30 to 32, arrived at the Port of Zamboanga on last April 5 from Sandakan, Sabah on board MV Antonia.
Based on initial investigation, they were recruited via social and promised jobs as waitresses in Malaysia with supposed monthly salaries ranging from P40,000 to P 60,000. Upon arrival, however, they were forced to work as guest relations officers (GROs) in bars.
Sandoval said two of the victims departed the Philippines on November 2024 through an illegal and irregular migration corridor (IMC), commonly known as the “backdoor” route. They then traveled from Palawan to Malaysia aboard small and medium-sized boats, to evade immigration procedures at the formal ports.
Upon reaching Sabah, they were brought to a bar-restaurant where they were later apprehended by Malaysian authorities for working without proper documentation.
Sandoval said the two were detained in Malaysia for five months before being deported and reunited with Philippine authorities and that one of the victims disclosed that she had been trafficked as early as 2021 and had been subjected to repeated exploitation since.
Individuals with information on suspected trafficking or illegal recruitment activities are being urged by the BI to contact the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) through its 24/7 Actionline 1343.
