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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider 12 Pinoys recruited to work for POGOs overseas return home

12 Pinoys recruited to work for POGOs overseas return home

Published Jan 19, 2026 06:26 pm
HUMAN trafficking victims rescued by Filipino and Malaysian authorities.
HUMAN trafficking victims rescued by Filipino and Malaysian authorities.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Twelve Filipinos who were recruited to work for operations similar to POGOs abroad were rescued as potential human trafficking victims by Philippine and Malaysian authorities.
The 12, who were among 844 returning Filipinos who arrived from Sabah last Saturday, were provided with assistance by the Department of Migrant Workers-9.
Interviews with the 12 revealed harrowing experiences about their recruitment.
The group was lured through social media and personal connections with promises of high paying jobs as customer representatives in operations similar to POGOs in Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia with salaries of up to P60,000 monthly.
The victims slipped out of the country through the southern backdoor, specifically from Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi and eventually through small vessels to Malaysia.
Once in Malaysia, they faced immigration violations that led to their interception and eventual repatriation.
Upon their arrival, the Department of Migrant Workers-9 and partner agencies under the Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking-9 were on hand to provide immediate protection, verification, and assistance.

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