At least nine suspected human trafficking victims were repatriated after they were rescued from their abusive employers in Malaysia and Thailand, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
The BI said the repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrived in two batches from Malaysia and Thailand at the Ninoy Aquino International. The group from Bangkok allegedly left the country as tourists sometime in the last quarter of 2022 and were promised customer service jobs with a pay ranging from P40,000 to P60,000.
“Like other cases of human trafficking in the Southeast Asian region, the victims were transported to Mae Sot City, Myanmar and forced to work in online love scams and crypto rackets while the others served as therapists in Malaysia” said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
The victims recounted how they had to endure physical torture for not meeting their quota. They were detained until they could pay ransom for their release.
“We always hear the stories of our repatriated kababayans – each story worse after the other. It is gut-wrenching hearing how they suffered. One of them shared how their parents had to sell their farm land to produce a large-sum of money just to be given to those criminals.» the BI chief said.
“Imagine the mental and emotional torture the victims and their families went through. That is not something one easily recovers from.» he added.
The victims were recruited by strangers through the Facebook. According to the victims, they all left the country in the last quarter of 2022 supposedly to work as massage therapists in Miri, Malaysia.
The victims were later forced to engage in sex work in spa parlors offering ‘extra service’.
The victims recounted how they were forced to work every day and were only given rest days during their monthly period.
“Sex trafficking is a direct attack to one›s rights and dignity. It is dangerous, degrading, and is exploitative of women and children.» the BI Chief said.
The BI reiterated the warning to the public not to fall prey to human trafficking schemes, saying “securing documents to work abroad might be tedious, but it also protects aspiring overseas Filipino workers against illegal recruitment and other hazards abroad,» he said.