CAMBODIA — Two mothers are speaking out and asking for justice after their daughters were tricked and sent to Cambodia, where they were forced to work in a dangerous scam operation. These mothers want to make sure no other Filipinos fall victim to the same scam.
How the Scam Happened
Lolita Bacarra’s daughter left the Philippines on January 9. She was promised a customer service job that would pay her $700 a month. She had worked abroad before, so she trusted the offer. But, the job turned out to be a lie.
The woman who offered her the job was someone she met on Facebook. The daughter was told she would be working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong to help support her four children. But instead, she ended up in Cambodia at a scam hub.
The woman had no face in the pictures she sent to Bacarra’s daughter. Bacarra’s daughter’s sister-in-law, Joy Noto, warned her, saying, “If they don’t show their face, don’t go because you don’t know them!” But Bacarra’s daughter didn’t listen. She didn’t tell her family she was leaving because she knew her mom would try to stop her.
When she arrived in Cambodia, she found out that the scammers planned to use her to trick rich people into giving away money. She was also forced to clean toilets and do other terrible jobs. Some of the workers were hurt, and they were treated badly.
Another Mother’s Story
Erlinda Alberca’s daughter went to Cambodia on March 6. When she arrived, she was shocked by the high walls and armed guards. She was scared and immediately asked for help from the Philippine Embassy. Her daughter’s group was treated badly, with people being beaten and kicked. On March 19, they were finally rescued. But before they were freed, the scammers hurt them and tried to find out who told the embassy about the bad situation.
Mothers Fight for Justice
When Bacarra and Alberca found out what had happened to their daughters, they asked for help from the Philippine government. They contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and others, but no one could help because the scam happened in Cambodia.
Both mothers said they won’t allow their daughters to work abroad anymore because of the dangers they faced. Bacarra said, “I’m scared. I might never see my daughter again. She’ll probably stay here and find work in the Philippines.” Alberca also said that after what happened, her daughter will be more careful and won’t trust strangers online.
Mothers Ask for Action
Both mothers want the government to do more to stop people from being tricked and scammed. They hope justice will be done for their daughters, and they don’t want this to happen to other Filipino women and men.
Bacarra said, “They are not guilty. They need justice. We are here to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.” Alberca added, “I hope the government will do something so there won’t be any more victims.”
Support for the Victims
Migrante International and the United Methodist Church have said they will help the women who were trafficked. They are ready to help file cases for the victims, even if they’ve already been home for a long time.
Joanna Concepcion from Migrante said, “We are ready to help the ten victims and others who want to file complaints.” Rev. Marie Sol Villalon from the United Methodist Church added, “This is a sign that something is wrong with our country. The government needs to do more to stop forced migration caused by poverty.”
A Call for Change
The mothers want the government to work harder to protect Filipinos from traffickers and scam operations like the one in Cambodia. They want to make sure no one else has to go through the pain and fear that their daughters experienced.
