MANILA, Philippines — Authorities arrested a Japanese national and his Filipino cohort at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 for allegedly trafficking Filipinos and orchestrating a large-scale illegal recruitment scheme.

In a statement, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) identified the suspects as Tomita Takayuki, a Japanese citizen, and Maria Zenaida Callos Otani, a Filipina. The duo were apprehended on May 9 during a joint entrapment operation by the DMW, the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking, and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) International Airport Investigation Division.

The operation foiled the suspects’ attempt to smuggle 13 Filipinos out of the country, who were reportedly promised factory jobs in Japan under the Technical Intern Training Program. Authorities said the victims were offered a monthly salary of 120,000 yen and were recruited through a bogus agency named Winkbayside Manpower Services.

Further investigation revealed that once deployed to Japan, the victims were not enrolled in the promised training program but were instead assigned to various employers under fictitious identities. They were paid significantly less than their actual salaries, which reached up to 200,000 yen.

“The arrests are in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify protection for overseas Filipino workers and to crack down on human trafficking syndicates,” the DMW said.

DMW Undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services Bernard P. Olalia oversaw the operation, which stemmed from multiple victim complaints that exposed the fraudulent scheme.

The suspects now face charges of qualified trafficking in persons and large-scale illegal recruitment—both considered serious offenses under Philippine law.

The Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) is urging other victims of the same scheme to come forward. They may file complaints directly with the DMW or reach out via the agency’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip.