A Japanese man was detained Friday at Manila International Airport on suspicion of trafficking a minor, the Philippines aviation security authority said Saturday.
Reported Manila resident Akio Watanabe, 68, was stopped as he and an 18-year-old Filipina were preparing to board a flight to Japan, investigative sources said.
Personnel at passport control raised the alarm when the minor was found to be using a Japanese alias. She was quoted as saying that she was poor and wanted to work in Japan.
Both are now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation, which is checking to see if they have ties to organized crime.
The airport is also known as Ninoy Aquino International Airport.