The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported that 27 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were rescued from Cambodia and have safely returned to the Philippines. These workers were allegedly subjected to ‘slave-like’ conditions by their employers.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco announced in a statement that the group of OFWs arrived last Friday, December 8. The circumstances of their departure from the Philippines were concerning. According to the BI, 12 of these workers left the country illegally via the southern backdoor route, while the other 14 departed as regular tourists, under the guise of holiday travel.
Commissioner Tansingco provided details on their harrowing journey. “The 12 workers allegedly traveled for 11 hours from Zamboanga to Sabah, Malaysia, before being transferred to Cambodia,” he stated. The group was diverse, including a government employee and others who were either on short-term travel, traveling with friends, a partner, or an employer, or who were gainfully employed.
One individual, who was a legitimate worker bound for Palau, was instead taken to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. During their time in Cambodia, the OFWs were reportedly forced to engage in scams targeting elderly men in the United Kingdom. The investigation further revealed instances of abuse and torture. “Some of them experienced abuse and torture in the workplace and were later sold by their Chinese employers to another company,” Tansingco explained.
This incident sheds light on the ongoing plight of many OFWs who find themselves in dire situations abroad. “Imagine, being a professional here but ended up being sold like a slave abroad. These are the real stories that we have been hearing every day, yet people continue to say yes to this,” lamented Tansingco.