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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 23 Filipinos forced to work as 'scammers' in Cambodia repatriated to PH -- BI

23 Filipinos forced to work as 'scammers' in Cambodia repatriated to PH -- BI

Published Aug 25, 2025 05:19 pm
Twenty-three Filipinos who were forced to work as “scammers” in Cambodia have returned to the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Monday, Aug. 25.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said the 23 Filipinos – nine men and 14 women -- arrived last Aug. 23 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
“These syndicates prey on Filipinos’ hopes for a better life abroad, but what awaits them is abuse, slavery, and despair,” warned Viado.
The BI said that those repatriated revealed that “they were recruited through social media with promises of employment as customer service representatives and a monthly salary of $1,500.”
“However, they said they only received around $300 and were forced to work as love scammers by syndicates which target male Europeans,” it said.
The BI said the victims revealed that they were subjected to punishments such as squatting exercises and were verbally and physically abused when they failed to meet their quotas.
Other victims revealed that they were later “sold” to other companies and likened their ordeal to modern-day slavery, it added.
The BI said that most of the victims left the Philippines posing as tourists while one left with his entire family for a trip in Thailand where, upon arrival, proceeded to Cambodia.
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