DOJ files human trafficking raps vs Immigration exec

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed before a Pasay City court criminal charges against a Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer for allegedly conniving with human trafficking syndicates. In a resolution issued by Justice Undersecretary Leah Armamento on March 14, the DOJ dismissed the appeal of Immigration Officer I Luzviminda Herrera, who is assigned to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (NAIA-1). The resolution said the Pasay City Regional Trial Court may now proceed with the trial of Herrera, who was charged for allegedly violating the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act or Republic Act No. 9208. The DOJ also affirmed an earlier resolution issued by Pasay City's Office of the City Prosecutor. "Putting together these vital pieces of evidence, it is indubitably shown tha there engenders a well founded belief that respondent-appellant (Herrera) is probably guilty of facilitating and promoting trafficking in persons by allowing the passengers to exit from the airport without the proper travel documents," said the DOJ resolution. In her appeal, Herrera defended herself by saying that she cleared the departure of the passengers "in good faith, and the veracity of the affidavits of the affiants are all matters of evidence, best addressed and appreciated in a court of law during a full-blown trial on the merits." Immigration records show that in September last year, Herrera supposedly tried to facilitate the departure of seven Filipinos without inspecting their travel documents. The passengers later confessed that their recruiters told them to line up at an immigration counter manned by a certain "Ate Rose." The station was later discovered to be Herrera's. In a complaint against Herrera, Immigration lawyers Arvin Cesar Santos and Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang alleged that Herrera may be liable for trafficking because she cleared the departure of the seven passengers who had no Philippine Overseas Employment Association-Overseas Employment Certificates (POEA-OECs) and affidavits of support. "Thus, it is evdient that when they were cleared for departure without the necessary POEA clearances and certificates, they did not undergo the proper procedure to ensure their protection as overseas Filipino workers," said the resolution. – VVP, GMA News