DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued a public warning against deceitful recruitment practices promising lucrative jobs in Lebanon, which persist despite ongoing anti-trafficking efforts.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco highlighted the issue after the recent interception of a Filipino woman at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Friday, June 21.
According to a report the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) stated that the 57-year-old woman was stopped before boarding a Philippine Airlines flight to Thailand. During an interview with I-PROBES personnel, she initially claimed to be a tourist visiting a relative in Thailand but later admitted her true destination was Lebanon.
The woman confessed that her travel documents were counterfeit, provided by a recruiter she had communicated with solely through Facebook Messenger. The recruiter had instructed her to present herself as a tourist to mislead immigration officers during interviews.
Investigations revealed that the woman had previously worked as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Lebanon and wanted to return to work using illegal means. She has been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation and to file cases against her recruiter.
“We urge Filipinos to refrain from accepting job offers in Lebanon due to heightened risks to their safety and well-being,” said Commissioner Tansingco. “Do not engage in employment opportunities in Lebanon, as they pose significant risks. Your safety is more important.”
The Philippine government has been actively repatriating Filipino nationals from Lebanon. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that 273 distressed Filipino nationals have been repatriated since the government raised Alert Level 3 in Lebanon in 2023.
