MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested three alleged illegal recruiters who arrived in the Philippines alongside seven repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Myanmar, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed Thursday.
Recruited Under False Promises
Victims recounted that the suspects, who used aliases such as “Miss Anne,” “Orange,” “Carlo,” and “Bryan,” lured them via social media platforms. They were promised jobs in Thailand as customer service representatives with monthly salaries between $800 and $1,500 (₱45,152 to ₱84,660).
However, upon arrival in Thailand, the recruits were transported to Myawaddy, Myanmar, and forced to work as online scammers in so-called scam hubs. It was later discovered that the recruiters were part of the same illegal operations.
Suspects in Custody
Following inquest proceedings, the three suspects were detained at the NBI Detention Facility. Authorities have not disclosed their full identities pending further investigation.
Support for Repatriated Victims
The DMW assured that the repatriated victims will receive financial, psychosocial, and reintegration support. It also encouraged other victims to come forward and contact the DMW Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons Program through its official Facebook page to avail of free legal aid.
“We strongly urge job seekers to avoid online job offers and verify any overseas employment opportunities with official channels,” the DMW reiterated.
The department has emphasized the importance of vigilance to avoid falling prey to human trafficking and illegal recruitment schemes.