Photo credit: BI

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is raising the alarm over a growing number of Filipino trafficking victims sneaking out of the country through backdoor routes—only to end up trapped in abusive POGO-like companies overseas.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to cracking down on human trafficking and protecting Filipino workers from exploitative schemes. While the BI is ramping up border security, the agency stresses that local authorities must step up their efforts to prevent illegal departures through alternative routes.

Filipinos Lured into Love Scams, Abused by Employers

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado revealed that three trafficking victims—two women and one man—were recently repatriated from Cambodia. The victims, who were lured into working as online love scammers, arrived in the Philippines on March 16 via a Philippine Airlines flight from Phnom Penh.

The trio’s ordeal was harrowing. After more than two months of physical abuse and torture at the hands of their employers, they finally sought help from the Philippine Embassy. Upon their return, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) took over their case and launched an investigation into their recruiters.

But here’s the shocking part—none of them had official records of leaving the country. Instead, they shared how they were smuggled out illegally:
1. They boarded a small boat from Jolo, Sulu, to Sabah, Malaysia.
2. Once in Sabah, their passports were stamped with fake Philippine departure stamps.
3. They then traveled by land to Kuala Lumpur, flew to Bangkok, and finally reached Cambodia.

Facebook Job Offer Turns into Nightmare

Like many trafficking victims, they were recruited through Facebook by a fellow Filipino who promised them a Customer Service Representative (CSR) job in Cambodia with a salary of $1,000 per month. But upon arrival, they were trained to work as online love scammers and received only $300.

When they tried to leave due to unfair pay, their Chinese employer reacted violently—physically assaulting them, confiscating their phones, and eventually abandoning them in an unfamiliar place. Thankfully, they managed to contact the Philippine Embassy, which facilitated their safe return.

A forensic examination by the BI’s Documents Laboratory later confirmed that their passports contained fake BI departure stamps.

BI Calls for Stronger Action Against Human Trafficking

Commissioner Viado stressed that while the BI is strengthening border security, a larger, coordinated effort is needed to combat human trafficking.

“Everyone must work together. Traffickers are using illegal routes to avoid detection by immigration, making it crucial for LGUs and local authorities to increase monitoring and enforcement in vulnerable areas,” he said.

With traffickers finding new ways to bypass immigration, authorities are urging Filipinos to remain vigilant against shady job offers—especially those that seem too good to be true.