Senator Raffy Tulfo warned Filipino seafarers entering US territorial waters against accessing prohibited content on their mobile devices, especially child pornography, which is strictly outlawed under US law.
He cautioned that even viewing such content can be detected by US Customs and Border Protection and lead to detention or deportation.
Tulfo’s warning came after several Filipino workers on the Carnival Sunshine cruise liner were forcibly removed and banned from the US for allegedly accessing child pornography, charges they denied.
During a public hearing on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Tulfo also urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to strengthen contract verification, penalize illegal recruiters, and secure better protection for OFWs through bilateral agreements.
He emphasized the need for strict compliance by foreign employers to prevent abuses and contract violations against Filipino workers abroad.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 14, 2025
