A husband and wife left for Malaysia in April last year, ended up in Laos where they worked as telesales agents, were detained and abused by their employer, and paid P800,000 for their release.

Last Jan. 12, the couple returned to the Philippines with the help of their relatives who contacted embassy officials. 

“We urge all citizens to adhere to immigration laws and regulations, as leaving the country without proper documentation not only jeopardizes personal safety but also contributes to illegal activities that may lead to exploitation,” Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement.

Tansingco said the couple left for Malaysia as tourists in April 2023.  He also said the couple left four children in the Philippines.

The couple were found to have been recruited through Facebook to work as "Tele Sales Agent" role with a monthly salary of P45,000 each, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.

It said that when the couple arrived in Malaysia they were transported to Bangkok, Thailand where they boarded a speed boat to Laos.

They worked as telesales agents for an online casino and recruited Filipino players through a list of contacts provided by their Philippine-based employer, it also said.

However, the couple was  detained and subjected to physical abuse at the hands of their employers from December until January of this year, it lamented.

"This unfortunate incident highlights the perils that individuals face when attempting to bypass legal processes,” Tansingco said.