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MANILA, Philippines — Authorities on Tuesday reported the repatriation of four Filipinos who were allegedly trafficked to Cambodia and fell victim to job scam syndicates.
In a statement, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the victims, all men aged 27 to 46, were promised high salaries and quick deployment to Thailand.
But instead of being deployed to Thailand, they were taken to Cambodia and forced into running online scams that preyed on foreigners, including love scams and phishing operations.
The bureau said three of the men left the country as tourists, while one exited through a “backdoor.”
“One of the victims recounted traveling from Palawan to Kota Kinabalu via speedboat, then onward to Thailand, Myanmar, and eventually Cambodia,” the BI said.
“He described experiencing maltreatment, long working hours, and months without pay — eventually escaping and seeking help from the Philippine Embassy,” it added.
READ: BI cautions public anew over job opportunities abroad
BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, meanwhile, denounced the trafficking of the victims.
“Human trafficking remains one of the most insidious crimes affecting our people,” he said.
“These victims were lured with lies and ended up stripped of their rights and dignity,” he added.
The four men arrived in Manila on Saturday aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Phnom Penh, the BI said.
While an investigation is underway involving individuals linked to trafficking the victims, the BI urged the public to be cautious of online job offers and to transact only with licensed recruitment agencies. /apl
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