Three Filipinos have returned to the Philippines after escaping from a scam hub in Cambodia where they were allegedly detained and tortured, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Monday, March 17., 

NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago said the three Filipinos, whose identities have been withheld, arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, March 16, after NBI officials were sent to fetch them in Cambodia.

“Naging successful po at naiuwi natin ‘yung tatlo nating kababayan (It was successful and we were able to get our countrymen home),” said Santiago during a press conference.

The NBI chief said “sila po ay biktima ng mga scammers (they are victims of scammers).”

“Dinala sila sa Cambodia at naging scammer sila,” said Santiago  who noted the three left the Philippines illegally through the country’s backdoor.

Meanwhile, Santiago assured “magko-conduct pa kami ng further investigation (we will be conducting further investigation).”

He said the NBI will coordinate with the Cambodian authorities and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), which could conduct a raid at the compound in Cambodia where the victims were taken.

He also said the victims told him that there are still around 40 Filipinos being kept there and forced to work as scammers.

“Sa ating mga kababayan, ‘wag po kayo maakit sa offer na malaking sweldo (To our countrymen, do not me tempted to offers of hugesalaries),” he warned the public. 

“Maniwala lamang kayo sa mga accredited recruitment agencies (Only believe the accredited recruitment agencies),” he advised.

NBI Executive Assistant for Special Concerns Yentl D. Malicad said the three victims narrated that, last January, they saw a post online offering for work as customer service representatives for a casino company in Cambodia with salary of $1,000.

The three left the Philippines last January 7 without going through the proper procedure.

The victims said they flew to Dipolog City where they boarded a ferry going to Basilan, and later to Tawi-Tawi where they boarded small boats.

They later transferred to a fishing boat that brought them to Sabah, Malaysia, and proceeded with their journey until they reached Cambodia.

“Nagulat na lang po ang mga biktima po natin na instead na magwork sila as customer service representatives sinabihan po sila na hindi sila pwede lumabas ng compound at ang trabaho nila ay mang-iscam ng foreigners aged 55, pataas (The victims were surprised that, instead of working as customer service representatives, they were not allowed to leave the compound and were told to scam foreigners ages 55 years old and above),” said Malicad.

After a month, Malicad said the victims decided to leave after each receiving a salary of $300 instead of the $1,000 promised them. 

“Nalaman ng mga Chinese bosses nila ‘yung plano nila na lumipat sa ibang company. Nilabas po sila in the middle of the night. Isa po sa kanila hindi pinakain, hindi pinainom at ikinulong. At ‘yung dalawa po binugbog ng 15 na Chinese individuals (Their Chinese bosses found out their plans to leave. The victims were taken out in the middle of the night. One of the victims got detained and was not denied food and water. While the two others were beaten up by 15 Chinese men),” she said.