BI: Trafficked Filipinos sold among scam groups in Cambodia

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has raised alarm over new cases of human trafficking involving Filipinos who were tricked by fake overseas job offers and ended up being sold to online scam syndicates in Cambodia.

The BI reported that four Filipino victims, aged in their 20s and 30s, arrived home on April 19 aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Phnom Penh, landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. Their repatriation was made possible through the efforts of the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to strengthen measures against human trafficking and ensure the safety of overseas Filipinos.

Initial investigations revealed that the victims were enticed through Facebook ads offering high-paying jobs. Upon their arrival in Cambodia, their passports were confiscated, and they were forced to work in online scam centers, posing as FBI agents or fake romantic partners to deceive foreigners. Those who failed to meet their targets endured long hours, punishments, and were later sold to other scam groups.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado condemned the inhumane treatment of the victims, stating they were "treated like property – bought, sold, and abused." He emphasized that these syndicates have no regard for human dignity, adding, "Their stories are clear proof that these syndicates operate with no respect for human dignity. This must stop."

Authorities are now investigating the illegal recruiters who facilitated the victims' travel and are continuing their efforts to uncover the full network behind the trafficking operations.