The Philippines is urging the Malaysian government to help in its bid to fight human trafficking and prostitution.

Vice President and Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment (TFAIR) chief Noli De Castro made the appeal following reports that Filipino women are still being trafficked to Malaysia to work as prostitutes.

“I believe that the Malaysian government and its people would be more than willing to help us in our campaign against human trafficking and prostitution. These serious global concerns can be resolved easier through collaborated effort of the two affected countries, Malaysia and the Philippines,” De Castro said a press statement.

According to De Castro, intelligence reports from TFAIR revealed several Malaysians facilitating the deployment of local sex workers to Malaysia by providing them spurious travel documents, temporary shelters as well as funds until they start working.

Last February 9, five Filipinas from a Kuala Lumpur-bound plane were off-loaded at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga.

Immigration authorities said the travelers were intercepted for possessing fake travel documents.

TFAIR operations Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa identified the passengers as Ruby Rose Osorio Arcia, 24 years old, Joselle Laron Vitan, 21, Florie Lyn Conorado Espiritu, 24, Renelie Osorio Intalan, 20, and Jenny Bernabe Lucas, 24. All from Pasig City.

Sosa said Arcia confessed to TFAIR that they are going to be fetched and accommodated by Balasubramaniam A/L Panirsalvam and Suresh A/L Armogam when they arrive in Kuala Lumpur.

Panirasalvam and Armogam, with residences at 717 Block B Prima Selayang 68100, Batu Caves Selangor, and No. 8 Jalan 25 Taman, Kota, Palo 86600, Palo, Johor respectively, are said to be working for a Deli France Bake Shop in Kuala Lumpur .

It was learned that the two Malaysian nationals offered the five Pasig City residents jobs at the mentioned Deli France bake shop. However, Sosa said the ‘real deal’ was for the Filipinas to work as prostitutes in Kuala Lumpur.

De Castro said many Filipinas end up languishing in jails abroad for working without genuine papers. Worse and at many instances, they fall prey to ruthless syndicates who take advantage of their status as illegal aliens and subject them to maltreatment and other forms of abuse.