Philippines authorities say more than 1,000 trafficking victims were rescued by the Philippines Police during a raid on facilities on Thursday and Friday, The Police Captain, Michelle Sabino of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group says the victims were forced to work up to 18 hours a day perpetrating cryptocurrency scams. It allegedly happened in a compound in Mabalacat, about a two-hour drive from the country’s capital, Manila.
At least 12 suspected masterminds have been arrested and charged with human trafficking. Among them are seven Chinese, four Indonesians, and one Malaysian, Sabino said.
Sabino also said the police operation was the result of a request by the Indonesian ambassador in Manila for help in locating distressed citizens.
Last month, Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros warned that “scam call centers” were operating in the Philippines. They also employed the use of foreigners smuggled into the country.
“They met the people they scammed on Facebook and dating apps”
Captain Michelle Sabino of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group told VOA.
“They would pretend to fall in love with them and get their money.”
Police say the trafficking victims came from Vietnam, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Taiwan.
Sabino said –
“They were lured by social media posts promising good-paying jobs only to get trapped in these compounds that had armed guards to keep them from leaving.”
He further added that the criminals who ran the scam center are from China.
Philippines authorities were tipped off about the compound by officials in Indonesia, who received desperate messages for help from Indonesians trapped inside.
cc: Guardian Ng
