Authorities have arrested four individuals in Palawan suspected of operating as illegal recruiters and human traffickers, luring Filipinos with false promises of overseas jobs as Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) and “spammers” in Southeast Asia.
The joint operation was carried out by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC), and the Palawan Provincial Police Office (PPPO).
Those arrested were identified as Rajib Ibrahim Dedik, Romard Amalya Francisco, Ramel Aligno Acojedo, and Feraida Rosario, all residents of Palawan. Investigators revealed that the group enticed victims with job offers in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand, promising salaries ranging from USD 800 to USD 1,000 per month. However, authorities later discovered that the true intent was to deploy the recruits to cryptocurrency scam hubs.
In the operation, 13 victims were rescued. The suspects now face charges of syndicated and large-scale illegal recruitment and promoting trafficking in persons.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac vowed continued aggressive action against trafficking syndicates, declaring: “Hindi kami titigil sa paglaban sa mga illegal recruiters at human trafficking syndicates na nanlilinlang sa ating mga kababayang nais lamang magtrabaho abroad para sa magandang kinabukasan ng kanilang pamilya. Patuloy tayo sa ating mga operasyon upang masupil, maaresto, at maipasara ang kanilang mga maling gawain.”
The DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) has called on other potential victims of the suspects to reach out through its official Facebook page at facebook.com/dmwairtip
for free legal assistance.
Authorities also reminded Filipinos seeking overseas employment to apply only through licensed recruitment agencies, stressing that offers that appear “too good to be true” are likely scams. A full list of accredited recruitment agencies is available on the DMW website at www.dmw.gov.ph.
