Airport Employee Nabbed in Human Trafficking Sting

Airport Employee Nabbed in Human Trafficking Sting

By Bing Jabadan — TheNationweek.com
June 13, 2025

PASAY CITY, Philippines – A technical support staff member at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 has been arrested for allegedly facilitating the illegal departure of a Filipino passenger in exchange for cryptocurrency.

The arrest followed a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to tighten border security and combat human trafficking.

The operation began on June 4 when Bureau of Immigration officers intercepted a female passenger, identified only as “Mary,” attempting to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a fraudulent BI border stamp.

Suspicion arose when Mary claimed to have already undergone immigration inspection but was found to have a questionable departure stamp on her passport.

“This case demonstrates how traffickers are evolving — using cryptocurrency and insider access to conceal their activities,” said Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

The investigation revealed that Mary had allegedly paid $1,920 (P110,000) in cryptocurrency to an individual promising to facilitate her departure and bypass standard immigration procedures.

The individual, identified as Hayya Diane Acuna Molina, allegedly claimed to have connections within the BI.

Molina, who is employed as a technical support staff member for a private company contracted to maintain card readers at the airport’s immigration counters, was apprehended by agents from the National Bureau of Investigation-International Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID) while on duty at NAIA Terminal 3.

“This interception is part of our intensified efforts under the Marcos administration to modernize immigration systems, crack down on illegal departures, and protect our citizens from trafficking syndicates,” Viado added.

The BI’s forensic document laboratory confirmed the stamp on Mary’s passport was counterfeit.

During questioning, Mary admitted to handing her passport to a “fixer” inside an airport restaurant, who returned it with the forged stamp.

Molina was presented for inquest proceedings before a Pasay City prosecutor for violation of Section 5(e) of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by R.A. 11862 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.

NBI Director Judge Jaime B. Santiago (Ret.) commended the NBI-IAID agents for their successful operation.

Authorities suspected that Molina might be involved in facilitating the exit of other vulnerable Filipinos in collusion with other individuals.