Miriam seeks probe on trafficking of Pinays to Malaysia

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is seeking an investigation into the alleged use of the Diosadado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) as an exit point in the trafficking of Filipino women to Malaysia. Santiago filed Senate Resolution 287 which seeks to investigate reports that a human trafficking syndicate has been using the DMIA in Pampanga to bring women from that province to Sandakan, Malaysia, where they are forced into prostitution. "There is a need to address the issue of the possible use of government facilities, such as the international airport, and the possible collusion of public officials assigned in such facilities with members of these trafficking syndicates," she said in the resolution. Last Oct. 30, two women were arrested while escorting six Malaysia-bound undocumented Filipina workers at the DMIA departure area on October 30. (See: 2 suspected human traffickers nabbed in Pampanga) Santiago also asked her colleagues to delve into the “seeming inability of these government personnel to prevent the continuing operation of these trafficking rings." She said reports indicate that the syndicate operates as a labor-hiring agency which targets women from Mt. Pinatubo resettlement sites in Angeles City and Mabalacat, Pampanga. She said that women are promised jobs as waitresses, a monthly salary of $600, free travel fare, and free board and lodging. Upon their arrival in Sandakan, Malaysia, she said the women are taken to a house, raped, and then brought to a brothel in a high-end subdivision operated by Chinese businessmen. Santiago said the brothel, which caters to foreign sailors, is supposedly packed with around 200 women, most of whom hail from Pampanga. She said Susan Pineda, executive director of the Inang Makababaying Aksyon (IMA or Pro-Women Action) Foundation, said that the police had already issued an arrest warrant for the alleged head of the syndicate, Cindy Garcia Zamora. However, Zamora had reportedly posted bail. Last Oct. 31, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Kuala Lumpur rescued at least five female Filipino workers in Malaysia, who were believed to have fallen victim to a human trafficking ring. Authorities identified the alleged trafficker as Alfred Lim. (See: DOLE: 5 trafficked Pinays rescued in Malaysia)—Kimberly Jane Tan/JV, GMANews.TV