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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 4 trafficked Pinoys return from Laos – BI

4 trafficked Pinoys return from Laos – BI

Published Oct 20, 2025 03:03 pm
Four Filipinos who were trafficked and forced to work in scam hubs in Laos have returned to the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Monday, Oct. 20.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said the four Filipinos, whose names he did not disclose, arrived last Oct. 17 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Viado said the victims have identified before the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) their illegal recruiters including one who has been arrested by the National Bureau of Immigration-International Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID).
“We continue to coordinate closely with IACAT and international partners to ensure that those behind these syndicates are held accountable,” he also said.
The BI said that the four Filipinos were recruited through online advertisements promising high-paying customer support jobs in Laos with salaries reaching ₱47,000 per month.
“Investigations revealed that the group’s employment documents -- including Brunei work visas, employment contracts, Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) certificates, and Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) -- were provided to them only on the day of their departure at NAIA,” it also said.
It added that the recruiters used Brunei as a cover destination to be able to illegally transfer to another country.
During their stay in Laos, the BI said “the victims were made to work up to 15 hours a day without rest, and were later forced to perform unrelated tasks -- including maintaining social media accounts for online scams.”
It said the victims sought assistance from the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, Laos which facilitated their repatriation in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
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