One of the 12 human trafficking victims who were all repatriated recently after their rescue from a syndicate in Myanmar turned out to be an illegal recruiter for online gaming hubs in some parts of Southeast Asia, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has disclosed.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the illegal recruit was already arrested and is now the subject of an all-out investigation aimed at identifying the persons and groups behind the recruitment of Filipinos for a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator-like operation in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

“This incident shows that there is a modus that illegal recruiters pose as victims of trafficking and fly with legitimate recruits and mingle with distressed OFWs during repatriation,” said Cacdac.

DMW Undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services Bernard P. Olalia said the modus is to promise decent and high-paying jobs but those recruited ended up being maltreated in POGO-like hubs.

Olalia said the probe intends to unmask the syndicate behind the recruitment and to come up with measures to prevent the recruitment and deployment of Filipinos.

“We are trying to get to the bottom of the case and we are trying to find out who recruited them in order to prevent incidents of our kababayan being brought to the illegal migration corridors,” said Olalia.

One of the measures in place, according to him, was the deployment of a labor attaché in Thailand who will be in-charge of coordination with the government authorities--and this will include Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos in the absence of Philippine Labor Attaché office in the three countries. 

Olalia also disclosed that there are other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Thailand waiting to be repatriated and are still completing their documents since many of them escaped from their employers and left behind their visa and passports.

“The DMW is ready to assist victims of trafficking and illegal recruitment and advises the public to remain vigilant in verifying the jobs and legitimate recruitment agencies. Victims of illegal recruitment and trafficking are also advised to report to the DMW in order for them to receive assistance,” said Olalia.