NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
'Missionary' Cover Blown: BI Busts Trafficking Plot Disguised As Church Trip
Photo credit: BI
In a disturbing new twist to human trafficking tactics, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has raised the alarm over a new scheme—this time involving fake missionary trips.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado didn’t mince words when he expressed disappointment about traffickers now hiding behind religion just to slip through the cracks. “It’s appalling,” Viado said. “They’re using faith as a cover for illegal recruitment.”
This all came to light on April 1 at NAIA Terminal 3, when immigration officers flagged three women—aged 23, 25, and 50—who were trying to catch a Scoot Airlines flight to Singapore, with Thailand as their final destination. At first glance, they were supposedly on a noble mission: church volunteers headed for a missionary trip. But something felt off.
According to BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), inconsistencies in their travel documents triggered further inspection. That’s when the truth unraveled.
Turns out, the two younger women weren’t missionaries at all—they were licensed teachers recruited to work illegally in a Thai school. The third woman, who posed as their preacher and group leader, was actually their recruiter. She allegedly convinced them to pose as missionaries and prepare documents like transcripts just in case the school decided to “officially” hire them once they got there.
BI investigators also discovered that this wasn’t her first rodeo. The recruiter had recently traveled to Thailand, previously escorting another group who also posed as church members—but she never returned with them.
“This is just like the old ‘Bitbit’ scheme,” Viado explained, referring to a setup where frequent flyers act as fake mentors or guardians to smuggle victims into overseas jobs under false pretenses. “Only now, it’s wearing a religious disguise.”
The BI immediately referred the victims to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for help. The good news? The recruiter didn’t get far. Thanks to quick action by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), she was arrested just two days later on April 3. A check with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed she wasn’t licensed to recruit anyone for jobs abroad.
Viado ended on a hopeful note: “Every arrest means fewer victims. And that means we’re getting better at protecting our kababayan from these predators.”
This isn’t the first time traffickers tried to use religious covers. Back in 2011, six Filipinas pretending to be nuns were caught trying to sneak into Lebanon for illegal work. Sadly, the pattern continues—but so does the vigilance of authorities.
Stay alert, and remember: not every “mission” is what it seems.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado didn’t mince words when he expressed disappointment about traffickers now hiding behind religion just to slip through the cracks. “It’s appalling,” Viado said. “They’re using faith as a cover for illegal recruitment.”
This all came to light on April 1 at NAIA Terminal 3, when immigration officers flagged three women—aged 23, 25, and 50—who were trying to catch a Scoot Airlines flight to Singapore, with Thailand as their final destination. At first glance, they were supposedly on a noble mission: church volunteers headed for a missionary trip. But something felt off.
According to BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), inconsistencies in their travel documents triggered further inspection. That’s when the truth unraveled.
Turns out, the two younger women weren’t missionaries at all—they were licensed teachers recruited to work illegally in a Thai school. The third woman, who posed as their preacher and group leader, was actually their recruiter. She allegedly convinced them to pose as missionaries and prepare documents like transcripts just in case the school decided to “officially” hire them once they got there.
BI investigators also discovered that this wasn’t her first rodeo. The recruiter had recently traveled to Thailand, previously escorting another group who also posed as church members—but she never returned with them.
“This is just like the old ‘Bitbit’ scheme,” Viado explained, referring to a setup where frequent flyers act as fake mentors or guardians to smuggle victims into overseas jobs under false pretenses. “Only now, it’s wearing a religious disguise.”
The BI immediately referred the victims to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for help. The good news? The recruiter didn’t get far. Thanks to quick action by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), she was arrested just two days later on April 3. A check with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed she wasn’t licensed to recruit anyone for jobs abroad.
Viado ended on a hopeful note: “Every arrest means fewer victims. And that means we’re getting better at protecting our kababayan from these predators.”
This isn’t the first time traffickers tried to use religious covers. Back in 2011, six Filipinas pretending to be nuns were caught trying to sneak into Lebanon for illegal work. Sadly, the pattern continues—but so does the vigilance of authorities.
Stay alert, and remember: not every “mission” is what it seems.
Apr 7, 2025
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