DFA rescues 10 more trafficked Filipinos from Cambodia

Ten more Filipinos who were trafficked to Cambodia and forced to work in online scams have been rescued and repatriated, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Sunday.

In a press release, the DFA confirmed that the repatriated individuals arrived safely in the Philippines earlier that day with the assistance of multiple agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

DFA Cites Regional Scam and Trafficking Risks

The victims were rescued from Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province on Saturday before embarking on a nine-hour journey to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, the Philippine Embassy provided them with hot meals and care packages. The DFA emphasized that the rescue was possible through the long-standing diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Cambodia.

Scam centers in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar are known for operating illegal online schemes that defraud individuals while also engaging in human trafficking. These operations lure victims into fraudulent investments and force trafficked individuals—including those from neighboring countries—to work within tightly controlled compounds.

“The entire Philippine Foreign Service renews its call for the Filipino public to heed the Embassy’s Advisory No. 09-2025 on deceptive overseas job opportunities peddled on social media, which could bring miserable, even harmful outcomes in some cases,” the DFA said.

Image: Department of Foreign Affairs