On Wednesday, the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia announced that 26 Filipino workers, who had been working in Oddar Meanchey province, have now been safely returned to the Philippines.
The Embassy said that these Filipinos were working for a company in the municipality of Samraong. After some Filipinos reached out for help, the Embassy officially asked the Cambodian government to free them. This led to their release, thanks to the cooperation between the Philippine Embassy and Cambodian authorities.
The Embassy praised the teamwork between the two governments, calling it a sign of the strong friendship between the Philippines and Cambodia. The two countries were able to work together effectively on this important matter.
While the Embassy did not confirm if the workers were victims of human trafficking, they did remind the public about the risks of fake job offers, especially those posted on social media. These fake job ads often offer positions like customer service roles but are actually traps that can involve scams like fake investments or “love scams.”
The Embassy issued a warning, urging everyone to be careful when considering job offers online. They also provided contact details for Filipinos in Cambodia who need help or want to report suspicious job schemes. They can reach the Embassy through WhatsApp, Telegram, or Viber at +855 9888 8771 or email phnompenhpe.atn@dfa.gov.ph.
Representatives from several government departments were at the airport to greet the returning Filipinos. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) all provided support to ensure the repatriates received the help they needed.
