Marcos to raise scam hubs issue in state visit to Cambodia
Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will undertake a state visit to Cambodia from Sept. 7 to 9, where he is expected to raise the issue of scam hubs and human trafficking that have victimized Filipinos in mainland Southeast Asia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.
DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona said the president and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos will travel to Phnom Penh at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni. They will be received by Senate President Hun Sen on behalf of the monarch.
The visit will be the first Philippine state visit to Cambodia in nearly nine years and reciprocates Prime Minister Hun Manet’s official trip to Manila in February.
Scam hubs and trafficking
Escalona said discussions on transnational crimes, including online scam hubs and human trafficking operations, are expected in the bilateral meetings with Cambodian leaders.
“There has been an increase in trafficking victims in scamming operations across mainland Southeast Asia, not only in Cambodia,” Escalona said. “This issue is very important for the Philippines, and we expect it to be discussed.”
The warning comes after a series of repatriations of Filipinos rescued from scam hubs.
On Aug. 23, the Bureau of Immigration reported the arrival of 24 Filipinos who had been rescued from scam hubs in Cambodia, according to a report of the Philippine News Agency.
The victims - nine men and 14 women - were assisted by the Philippine embassy in Phnom Penh and repatriated through Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. They told officials they were recruited through social media with promises of high-paying jobs as customer service representatives, only to be forced into online “love scams” targeting foreigners.
Instead of the promised $1,500 (roughly P85,400) monthly salary, the victims said they received around $300 (P17,000). They also described being subjected to punishments such as squatting exercises and physical abuse when they failed to meet quotas.
Filipinos in Cambodia
An estimated 7,500 Filipinos live in Cambodia, most of them working as teachers and in service-related sectors. Marcos is scheduled to meet members of the Filipino community upon arrival to recognize their contributions to Cambodian society.
The DFA said Marcos’ visit will pursue three objectives: diversifying trade and economic relations, strengthening cooperation against transnational crimes, and seeking support for the Philippines’ Association of Southeast Asian Nations chairmanship in 2026.
Agreements on combating transnational crimes, higher education and air services are expected to be signed during the trip. Marcos will also meet Cambodian business leaders to explore opportunities in food, beverage, pharmaceutical exports, franchising and tourism.
