The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday, February 22, flagged two Filipinas after immigration officers suspected them as possible foreign sex trafficking victims.

“This modus is still prevalent, wherein women are made to agree to work illegally as entertainers, but end up in prostitution because their employers have full control over them once they are abroad,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.

In a press release, the BI said the Filipinas separately claimed traveling to Thailand for a holiday, but their documentation showed their intent to transit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Upon a second inspection, both women admitted to being recruited to work as a dancer and a massage therapist.

This prompted the officers to believe that the victims were going to be coerced into prostitution once they arrive abroad.

One of the victims confessed that despite knowing the situation’s danger, she decided to take the risk. But Tansingco said the risk would not be worth it.

“Aspiring workers should also protect themselves from these syndicates preying on their desire to work abroad,” Tansignco said.

The BI chief urged Filipinos planning to work abroad to seek employment abroad through legal channels from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

The women have been endorsed to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) DIA in filing charges against their recruiters.