Metro Manila, Philippines – Thirteen Filipinos were rescued from large-scale illegal recruitment and an attempted human trafficking scheme that sought to smuggle them through Palawan and into crypto scam hubs in Southeast Asia, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Friday, Sept. 12.
Secretary Hans Cacdac said the victims were saved in a joint operation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). Authorities also arrested four suspected recruiters and traffickers in Rizal, Palawan.Cacdac hailed the operation as a major law enforcement success aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify protection for Filipinos vulnerable to trafficking and scam operations abroad.“Ang tunay na solusyon sa ganitong problema ay matibay na law enforcement. Mabuti at naharang agad ang pag-alis bago pa makarating ang mga kababayan natin sa scam hubs abroad. Malaking problema ang naiwasan,” Cacdac said.[Translation: The true solution to this problem is strong law enforcement. It is good that the departure was blocked before our fellow Filipinos reached scam hubs abroad. A major problem was prevented.]The victims had been promised jobs as customer service representatives and online spammers with monthly salaries of $800 (P45,700) to $1,000 (P57,100). Investigators later confirmed the recruits were actually bound for cryptocurrency scam hubs in Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar.Recruitment was conducted entirely through social media, according to authorities. The route involved traveling from Manila to Palawan, trekking through mountain paths in Rizal town, proceeding to the shoreline, and then taking a boat to Malaysia before being sent onward to Southeast Asian destinations.The rescued individuals remain in Rizal, Palawan, as officials complete investigations and prepare cases against the recruiters. The DMW said it will provide them with assistance, including job facilitation and financial support.Cacdac also reminded Filipinos to remain vigilant against suspicious job offers, particularly those involving “backdoor” travel arrangements.“Kapag dinadala na kayo sa bundok, ibinababa sa dagat, at binabangka palabas ng bansa — malinaw na senyales na ito ay human trafficking o illegal recruitment. Umatras na agad. Ang legal na pag-alis para sa trabaho ay sa eroplano, hindi sa likod ng bundok o dagat,” he said.
