OFW bound for Middle East helper job stopped for being below age limit By GMA Integrated New

The Bureau of Immigration was able to intercept a woman who attempted to depart the country for an overseas job she was too young for, on Monday. According to a statement on Tuesday, "Lia" (not her real name) presented herself as a 30-year-old who was traveling to Muscat, Oman for a job in household service. “Our alert primary inspection officer noticed that she seemed very young compared to her presented document, she was referred for secondary inspection. The immigration officers had reason to believe that she is underage, given the numerous inconsistencies in her statements and passports,” said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco. Lia told the BI officials that she was recruited by an agent in Marawi who provided her with a passport, a birth certificate, and other documents outside the airport before her flight. “We are worried that this might mean that there is a resurgence of the modus. Hence, we are forwarding this to the proper authorities for further investigation to be able to catch these recruiters,” added Tansingco. The minimum age requirement to be deployed as an OFW household worker is 24 years old. The victim is being assisted by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) in filing a case against her recruiters. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BM, GMA Integrated News

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