For P200k monthy pay? Immigration intercepts 3 Filipinos allegedly recruited as border guards in Europe

Immigration counters at Terminal 1, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Pasay City, April 13, 2018. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA — Three Filipino men were intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration in Davao City after discovering that they were being recruited to work as soldiers or border guards in Europe for a monthly salary of P200,000, the agency said Monday.

In a statement, the BI said the three Filipinos had shown “inconsistencies” in their declared travel plans before their scheduled departure from Davao International Airport on October 17.

The men, aged 25, 50 and 51, initially claimed that they were traveling to Thailand to “participate in or coach a Muay Thai tournament,” the BI noted.

But further questioning revealed that they had intended to travel to Eastern Europe where they had allegedly been promised monthly salaries of P200,000 to work as soldiers or border guards, it said.

Interviews with the Filipinos said “Alexander” and “Oleg” had sponsored their travel expenses and arranged their recruitment, the bureau said, noting that some of the men said that they had encountered the recruiters through Facebook and Telegram. 

They also said that their European electronic visas would be provided while they were in Thailand, it said.

“One of the men further disclosed that they had initially been told on October 13 to depart through a supposed ‘backdoor’ route in Zamboanga. The plan was later changed to air travel through Davao,” BI said.

The Filipinos were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking at Davao International Airport for further investigation.

“Filipinos must be cautious of recruiters who promise high salaries but provide unclear employment arrangements or questionable travel plans,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in the release.

“Before accepting any overseas job offer, they should verify the legitimacy of the employer and recruitment agency with the Department of Migrant Workers.”