Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippine government will be going after the illegal recruiters of at least 82 Filipinos who turned up working in a cyber scam hub in Laos, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.
In a forum on Saturday, Aug. 24, Migrant Workers Hans Cacdac said his department will work with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file the necessary charges.
“We will get the statements of the victims para ma-pinpoint sino ang nag-recruit dito sa kanila sa Pilipinas, file the necessary charges in partnership with the DOJ,” Cacdac said.
[Translation: We will get the statements of the victims to pinpoint those who recruited them in the Philippines and file the necessary charges in partnership with the DOJ.]
Filipinos were among the over 700 people detained after a crackdown on illegal companies within an online fraud ring called the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo province in Laos.
Other nationalities included those from Laos, China, Burundi, Colombia, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Mozambique, and Tunisia.
Seven Filipinos have been brought home out of 129 requests for assistance, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Cacdac said 75 Filipinos were pending repatriation.
He reminded the public not to entertain recruiters without license from the DMW. The secretary said recruiters must provide work visas, contracts, and clearance from DMW.
