Philippines Rescues Over 1,000 Trafficked Victims Held Captive By Chinese Scammers

Philippines National Police announced on Saturday that police officers had rescued over a thousand people from several Asian countries who had been smuggled into the country, held captive, and forced to operate online scams.

International concern has developed in recent months about internet frauds in the region, which are frequently staffed by trafficking victims who have been duped or pushed into pushing phony cryptocurrency investments.

According to Michelle Sabino, a spokeswoman for the Philippine National Police’s anti-cyber crime unit, authorities searched a cluster of properties in Mabalacat city, some 90 km north of Manila, on Thursday.

There were a total of 1,090 persons rescued.

According to Sabino, the victims were forced to target innocent people in the United States, Europe, and Canada with fake crypto scams.

Their passports were seized, and they were forced to labour up to 18 hours a day, with pay deductions for mingling with coworkers or taking extended breaks.

“You’re like a prisoner who doesn’t have a cell. Sabino told reporters that “you’re not even allowed to talk to your roommates.”

“They are not permitted to leave the confines of the gate.” They are brought to their dormitory after 18 hours of work.”

According to a second police statement, the victims were predominantly Chinese nationalities, Vietnamese, Filipinos, and Indonesians.

People were also saved from Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, and Nepal.

Sabino claims that the employees were coached to persuade individuals to acquire bitcoin or deposit money into fraudulent bank accounts by building phony romantic relationships.

“They will create a promise of a bright future together.” “Let’s buy a house, a car, invest money, or do business together,” she suggested.

At least 12 accused ringleaders of the scam have been apprehended and will face human trafficking charges. According to Sabino, they comprise seven Chinese nationals, four Indonesians, and one Malaysian.

Sabino further stated that the police action was in response to an appeal by the Indonesian ambassador in Manila for assistance in locating troubled people.

Last month, Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros warned that “scam call centres” were functioning in the Philippines and hiring trafficking foreigners.

Human Trafficking in the Philippines

Human trafficking is a serious problem in the Philippines, and the country is considered a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking in persons. According to the U.S. State Department’s 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report, the Philippines is a Tier 1 country, which means that it meets the minimum standards for addressing trafficking in persons and is making significant efforts to combat the problem.

Human trafficking in the Philippines is driven by poverty, lack of education, and high demand for cheap labor, domestic workers, and commercial sex. Children are particularly vulnerable to trafficking, and many are forced into domestic servitude, forced labor, and sex trafficking.

Trafficking in the Philippines is also linked to online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC), which has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. OSEC involves the production and distribution of child sexual abuse materials through the internet, and the Philippines is a top source country for this crime.

The Philippine government has taken steps to combat human trafficking, including passing laws and implementing policies to protect victims and prosecute traffickers. However, challenges remain, including corruption, lack of resources, and inadequate training for law enforcement officials. Efforts are also needed to address the root causes of trafficking, such as poverty and lack of access to education and job opportunities.