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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 27 Filipino human trafficking victims repatriated from Cambodia -- BI

27 Filipino human trafficking victims repatriated from Cambodia -- BI

Published Jan 2, 2026 03:31 pm

At A Glance

Twenty-seven Filipinos, who were human trafficking victims, have returned to the Philippines from Cambodia where they were forced to work in scam hubs, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Friday, Jan. 2.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said the victims, who were in their 20s and 30s, arrived last Dec. 31. Their names were not disclosed by the BI.
“Let this serve as a strong warning: no legitimate employer will require you to scam your own countrymen or invest through unofficial platforms,” Viado said.
He also said the BI is working closely with law enforcement agencies “to track, disrupt, and dismantle these scam rings.”
The BI said that eight of those repatriated were forced to do stock market-related scams.
“Victims are instructed to solicit fellow Filipinos to invest in so-called stock trading platforms or pseudo investment accounts that appear legitimate but are entirely controlled by criminal syndicates,” it also said.
At the same time, the BI said that those who failed to meet daily quotas were subjected to physical and psychological abuse -- including torture, intimidation, and deprivation -- to force compliance.
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