Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> —  Philippine authorities nabbed two Taiwanese nationals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for attempting to transport six Filipinos to Cambodia to allegedly work in scam operations.</p><p>Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) spokesperson Maj. Shari Vanneza Deseo said the Filipinos—two women and four men, aged 26 to 29, from Metro Manila—were recruited via a social media platform to work in a scam hub in Cambodia for USD 1,000 or around P50,000.</p><p>Based on the investigation, a Filipino facilitator in Cambodia allegedly ordered the recruitment.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/27/24-filipinos-rescued-from-online-scam-hubs-in-cambodia-repatriated-1908"><strong>24 Filipinos rescued from online scam hubs in Cambodia repatriated</strong></a></div><p>“As per investigation po dito sa case nating ito, aware po ang ating mga victims, ‘yong mga na-rescue natin, that they will work as scammers po doon sa Cambodia,” said Deseo. “Maybe it’s because of the kahirapan nga ng buhay natin… pumapatol na sila sa kahit ganitong paraan ng trabaho.”</p><p>(According to the investigation in this case, our victims—those we rescued—were aware that they would work as scammers in Cambodia. Maybe it’s because of the hardships of life that they are willing to take on this kind of work.)</p><p>The foreigners, currently detained at the WCPC facility, will face charges of trafficking in persons as well as large-scale and syndicated illegal recruitment, which carry the highest penalty of life imprisonment and a maximum total fine of P7 million.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/3/15/is-cambodia-serious-about-ending-organized-cyber-scams-1558"><strong>Is Cambodia serious about ending organized cyber scams?</strong></a></div><p>The WCPC is also pursuing charges against the Filipino facilitator.</p><p>“I talked with one of the arrested suspects. Ang sabi niya, many times or various times na siyang bumalik dito sa Pilipinas,” Deseo said. “Kumukuha sila o sumusundo sila ng mga victims natin na dinadala doon sa Cambodia.”</p><p>(I talked with one of the arrested suspects. He said he has returned to the Philippines many times. They pick up or fetch our victims and bring them to Cambodia.)</p><div><br/></div><p>OFWS</p><p>Meanwhile, the rescued individuals were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.</p><p>The Department of Justice said five of the Filipinos have been endorsed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.</p><p>“’Kasalukuyan sila ay nasa isang shelter natin na binibigyan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan,” Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty, the undersecretary-in-charge of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, said in an interview with state-run media PTV Thursday, September 25.</p><p>(They are currently in a shelter that is providing their needs)</p><p>The DOJ official underscored the need to strengthen referral mechanisms in various levels starting with communities to combat human trafficking, saying intelligence units, law enforcement agencies and the Bureau of Immigration cannot do the job alone.</p><p>“Mahalaga din na ‘yung mga biktima mismo sila ay mahimok na mag-report kaagad kung halimbawa sa umpisa pa lang may duda na sila sa recruitment,” Ty noted. </p><p>(It is also important for the victims themselves to report any suspicions even from when recruitment starts)</p><p>The DOJ official also emphasized that the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking is focusing on implementing the four-prong strategic action plan – prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership.</p><p>The WCPC said it is coordinating with law enforcement agencies in Cambodia, as well as in Myanmar, due to the rising incidents of trafficking and illegal recruitment.</p><p>“Nakikita namin na medyo dumadami talaga. But then, the WCPC is making efforts to address po ‘yong mga incidents na ganito para ma-prevent natin,” Deseo said.</p><p>(We are seeing an increase. But the WCPC is making efforts to address these incidents so we can prevent them.)</p><p>“Makikita natin na it’s not only illegal recruitment, but nandoon po ‘yong syndicated and large-scale. Madami kasi ang nare-recruit nila at madami rin ‘yong mga nagre-recruit,” she added.</p><p>(We can see that it’s not only illegal recruitment, but also syndicated and large-scale. They recruit many victims, and there are also many recruiters.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/5/16/why-are-scammers-still-thriving-in-southeast-asia-1716">Why are scammers still thriving in Southeast Asia?</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gTPxBh_HgeY?si=HS5Mr9oiR1UJ9kp1" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Based on the investigation, a Filipino facilitator in Cambodia allegedly ordered the recruitment.</p>

Based on the investigation, a Filipino facilitator in Cambodia allegedly ordered the recruitment.

2 Taiwanese nabbed at NAIA for trafficking Filipinos to Cambodia scam hub

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2 Taiwanese nabbed at NAIA for trafficking Filipinos to Cambodia scam hub

Michael Delizo,

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 25, 2025 02:44 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 25, 2025 03:16 PM PHT

Read More:

NAIA

Taiwan

Filipinos

Cambodia

scam hub

trafficking

illegal recruitment

WCPC

PNP

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