BUHANGIN, Davao City – Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Davao International Airport (DIA) on Tuesday rescued three women, including an 18-year-old, who were recruited to work as entertainers in Singapore.

The interception was carried out in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to protect Filipinos from trafficking and illegal recruitment, the BI said.

Immigration protection and border enforcement section (I-PROBES) personnel reported the victims were stopped by frontline officers while attempting to board a Scoot Airlines flight to Singapore. Two of them were from Luzon and had traveled to Davao for the trip.

The women initially claimed they were on a five-day holiday, but verification confirmed they were recruited to work abroad. One victim said a neighbor in Davao introduced her to a Manila-based contact who arranged their travel.

They told authorities they were not asked to pay any recruitment fee but were informed that 5,000 Singapore dollars would be deducted from their salaries.

“This is a form of debt bondage. Hindi ka pa umaalis, may utang ka na,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said. “This is a clear case of human trafficking… In many cases, women who are promised work as entertainers are later forced to work in the sex trade.”

The victims were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) at the DIA for further investigation. Authorities have identified two possible recruiters and are also looking into the involvement of two immigration personnel.

“We commend the swift action of our immigration officers… We likewise thank the National Bureau of Investigation in Davao and our partners in the IACAT who are continuing the investigation so the appropriate charges will be filed,” Viado said.