Human trafficking eyed in private jet take-off from NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — A private jet took off from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Monday without authorization from concerned agencies, reportedly with more passengers than was declared in its flight manifest.

In a statement yesterday, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said he received reports that an unauthorized private jet departed at the NAIA Terminal 1 at around 10 p.m.

Tansingco said the special flight reportedly carried more passengers than the number declared in the flight manifest. “We conducted an initial verification of the incident with the NAIA Terminal 3 management,” he said.

Reports said seven passengers and three crew members were on the chartered flight to Dubai.

Senators have expressed disgust over the attempted human trafficking involving eight Chinese-looking individuals through private flights at the NAIA last Monday and demanded that “heads should roll.”

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senate President Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda, Senators Ronald dela Rosa, Robinhood Padilla and Risa Hontiveros supported Sen. Grace Poe in calling for an investigation on the alleged aborted human trafficking, which could also be a threat to national security.

In her privilege speech, Poe detailed how the attempted human trafficking activities happened on Feb. 13.

“Let us not allow private flights in our airports as a way for human trafficking,” she said.

Last Monday, the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG) received an anonymous tip about human trafficking activity involving an aircraft with tail No. N9527E set to depart at about 10 p.m. on the same day at NAIA going to Dubai.

“After verifying, it was confirmed that the said plane had a scheduled flight on that day and time. The anonymous information also noted that only six passengers have been declared but a total of 14 passengers will actually board the aircraft,” Poe said.

She said the airplane was operated by Cloud Nine No.1 Leasing Co. Ltd., a Hong Kong-registered leasing company handled by Globan Aviation Service Corp. – Cecille Suerte Felipe