SANDAKAN, SABAH – A female trafficking victim was deported back to the country last 15 November at the Zamboanga International Seaport after being forced to work illegally, without documentation as an entertainer in a club in Malaysia.

The victim, identified as ‘Sarah’ 24, departed in February 2024 to Singapore, posing as a nanny of a family whom she is traveling with.

However, ‘Sarah’ admitted that she was actually recruited by another Filipina for a waitress job in Malaysia and told to pretend to be a domestic employee to avoid detection during inspection.

The victim’s recruiters instructed her to pay P20,000 for her travel expenses, which were incurred as a debt to her foreign employer.

 After arriving in Singapore, she took a flight to Malaysia, where someone picked her up and escorted her to a dormitory.

She was forced to work as a nightclub performer for a foreign employer to pay off her recruitment debts.

She was unable to pay her employer for her release, hence she was reported to Malaysian authorities and was later arrested for working without proper documentation.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado expressed his concern, emphasizing the crucial need for aspiring overseas Filipino workers to pursue employment through legitimate and authorized means.

 “This case highlights the exploitative and unjust practices of recruiters and syndicates who profit from human trafficking, leaving victims struggling to return home and facing numerous hardships due to false promises,” said Viado.

The victim received post-care assistance from officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after immigration arrival formalities.