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THE
interception on Wednesday of 17 undocumented workers,
mostly minors, bound for Jordan and Syria exposed a
possible colluder in the egregious practice of human
trafficking—she is an Immigration bureau officer.
Immigration officer Mindaya Ombawa had been relieved
from her post at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
and posted in the main office pending investigation of
her alleged involvement.
Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said, “We will never
condone the involvement of any of our personnel in human
trafficking. Such practice warrants the stiffest
penalty, for it is tantamount to exposing our women to
abuse and exploitation in foreign lands.”
He
reiterated, however, that Ombawa will have all her
rights intact—that she will be given due process and the
opportunity to defend herself, including the right to
counsel.
Initial
investigation showed the 17 would-be overseas workers
are minors from Maguindanao and Cotabato. Their
passports were tampered and their photos substituted
with older look-alikes.
Two
suspected illegal recruiters, identified only as “Teng”
and “Toni,” who allegedly hired the minors, were found
inside Ombawa’s car after a brief car chase. |
