In a significant operation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 in Pasay City, officers from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) thwarted a human trafficking attempt. The incident involved a 34-year-old woman who was stopped before she could board a flight to Cyprus on Turkish Airlines. The woman, whose identity remains confidential due to anti-trafficking legislation, was initially believed to be traveling for leisure. However, suspicions arose when she presented an invitation to an IVF clinic, which contradicted her stated purpose of travel. Further investigation disclosed that she had agreed to act as a surrogate for an individual she met through a dating app, lured by a promised payment of PHP300,000 post-delivery. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado highlighted the growing trend of online offers for surrogacy and IVF services, which often involve coercion and manipulation. He urged women to be cautious and avoid falling prey to such exploitative schemes. The woman was subsequently handed over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further support and protection.
Bureau of Immigration Saves Woman Lured into Surrogacy Scam via Dating App
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