MANILA—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intercepted three Filipino men at Davao International Airport over suspected illegal recruitment for military and border guard positions in Eastern Europe, where they were allegedly promised monthly salaries of ₱200,000.

The men were scheduled to leave on Oct. 17, 2026, but immigration officers flagged inconsistencies in their declared travel plans, prompting further questioning, the BI said Monday, Oct. 26.

The three, identified by the aliases “Johnny,” 25; “Berting,” 51; and “Tappy,” 50, initially claimed they were traveling to Thailand to participate in or coach a Muay Thai tournament. Authorities later found that they allegedly intended to proceed to Eastern Europe for employment as soldiers or border guards.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said the men identified two foreign recruiters, “Alexander” and “Oleg,” who allegedly arranged their recruitment and sponsored their travel expenses.

Some of the men reportedly said they encountered the recruiters through Facebook and Telegram. They also claimed that their European electronic visas would be provided while they were in Thailand.

One of the men disclosed that they had initially been instructed on Oct. 13 to leave through a supposed “backdoor” route in Zamboanga. The arrangement was subsequently changed to air travel through Davao, according to the BI.

The three men were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) at Davao International Airport for further investigation into their recruitment and intended overseas employment.

Viado urged Filipinos to exercise caution when considering overseas job offers, particularly those involving unusually high salaries, unclear employment arrangements or questionable travel plans.

“Filipinos must be cautious of recruiters who promise high salaries but provide unclear employment arrangements or questionable travel plans. Before accepting any overseas job offer, they should verify the legitimacy of the employer and recruitment agency with the Department of Migrant Workers,” Viado said.

He added that the BI would continue coordinating with partner agencies to prevent illegal recruitment and protect Filipinos from possible exploitation.

The interception forms part of the government’s efforts, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, to strengthen border inspections and protect Filipinos from potential human trafficking.