THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned the public of alarming trafficking cases involving Filipinos who were sold between online scam syndicates in Cambodia after being lured through fake overseas job offers.
Four victims in their 20s and 30s arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on April 19 aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Phnom Penh. The repatriation effort was carried out in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify the government’s response against human trafficking and to ensure the welfare of overseas Filipinos.
Their safe return was facilitated by the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
Investigations revealed that the victims were recruited through Facebook job ads promising high-paying work as encoders and customer service staff.
Once overseas, their passports were confiscated and they were forced to work in online fraud operations—posing as FBI agents or romantic partners on dating platforms to scam foreign nationals.
When they failed to meet targets, they were punished, overworked, and eventually sold or “transferred” to other syndicates as if they were commodities.
“They were treated like property—bought, sold, and abused,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado. “Their stories are clear proof that these syndicates operate with no regard for human dignity. This must stop,” he added.
One victim described 16- to 20-hour workdays, threats of detention, and physical punishments. Another said they escaped only after being handed over to a new group due to poor performance.
Viado emphasized that the government, under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, is working aggressively to dismantle human trafficking operations and protect vulnerable Filipinos.
“We urge jobseekers to avoid illegal offers online. Always go through the Department of Migrant Workers,” Viado warned.
Authorities from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking are now conducting investigations and are identifying those who facilitated their illegal deployment
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