Pasay City, Philippines: A 41-year-old female Filipino passenger bound for Dubai was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on September 27, 2026. Immigration screening flagged her as the subject of an alias warrant of arrest issued nearly 10 years ago.
The warrant involves two counts of Illegal Recruitment and two counts of Estafa.
How the Arrest Happened
Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel identified the departing passenger during routine screening at NAIA Terminal 3. They intercepted her before departure and turned her over to NAIA Police Station 3.
Police at the airport then coordinated with the Manila Police District (MPD), specifically its District Investigation and Detection Management Division-Crime Investigation Section (DIDMD-CIS). The two units jointly served the alias warrant.
The passenger’s name was not released in the official statement.
Details of the Case
Court records show the following:
- Date the alias warrant was issued: May 17, 2016
- Charges: Two counts of Illegal Recruitment and two counts of Estafa
- Recommended bail: PhP86,000.00
Under Philippine law, illegal recruitment covers recruitment activities by people or agencies without a valid license or authority. Estafa refers to fraud or swindling that causes financial loss to another person.
Statement From PNP AVSEGROUP
The accused is now in the custody of the MPD DIDMD-CIS for documentation and appropriate legal action.
The Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP AVSEGROUP) confirmed the arrest through its Public Information Office. Its director, PBGEN Dionisio B. Bartolome Jr., gave this statement:
“Patuloy nating paiigtingin ang kampanya laban sa mga wanted person at sisiguraduhing hindi magiging daan ang mga paliparan upang makaiwas sa batas.” (“We will continue to intensify our campaign against wanted persons and make sure that airports will not become a way to escape the law.”)
Why This Matters to Overseas Filipino Workers
Illegal recruitment remains a serious concern for Filipinos seeking jobs abroad, including in the UAE. Victims often lose money on fees for jobs that never materialize, and some are sent abroad without proper documents or protection.
Cases like this one show that such charges can follow an accused person for years. They also show that authorities can act on these cases at any point, even long after a warrant is issued.
Next Steps
The accused will go through documentation and legal processing under the MPD DIDMD-CIS. The case will then proceed in court, where the charges of Illegal Recruitment and Estafa will be heard.
Authorities have signaled that screening at Philippine airports will continue to support efforts to locate individuals with outstanding warrants.
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