The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Monday that 24 Filipinos were rescued and sent home after being forced to work in online scam hubs in Cambodia.
The group arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last Saturday, August 23, on a flight from Phnom Penh.
According to BI, the victims were rescued with the help of the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia. When they landed in Manila, the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking and the Department of Migrant Workers also gave them support and assistance.
Investigations showed that the victims were recruited through social media. They were promised jobs as customer service representatives with a salary of $1,500 per month.
But once in Cambodia, they were forced to work in love scam syndicates, tricking male Europeans online. Instead of the promised pay, they only received around $300 per month.
Whenever they failed to reach their quotas, the victims were punished. These punishments included squatting exercises, verbal insults, and even physical abuse.
BI added that the victims left the Philippines disguised as tourists, and some of them were later sold to other companies.
Just last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that 10 other Filipinos were also repatriated from Cambodia after being forced into the same kind of online scam operations.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, BI also intercepted two more Filipinos at the airport who were trying to fly to Thailand. The two first said they were tourists but later admitted they were promised jobs as encoders abroad.
The two were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for help. Authorities are now investigating at least two recruiters connected to their travel, and looking into the possible involvement of some airport personnel.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said:
“These syndicates prey on Filipinos’ hopes for a better life abroad, but what awaits them is abuse, slavery, and despair. We urge everyone: do not gamble your safety on promises of easy money or quick deployment.”
