3 illegal recruiters nabbed upon return to PH

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested three alleged illegal recruiters upon their return to the country along with seven repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers in Myanmar, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Thursday.

According to one of the victims, the suspects used different aliases such as "Miss Anne," "Orange," "Carlo," and "Bryan," to recruit via social media.

A victim said recruits were offered to work as a customer service representatives in Thailand with a monthly salary ranging from $800 to $1,500 (P45,152 to P84,660).

After arriving in Thailand, the victims were instead transported to neighboring Myawaddy, Myanmar where they were forced to work as online scammers in scam hubs.

The victims eventually learned the illegal recruiters were also with them and involved in illegal operations.

After undergoing inquest proceedings, the illegal recruiters were detained in the NBI Detention Facility.

Meanwhile, the DMW will provide financial, psychosocial, and reintegration assistance to the victims.

It also urged other victims to reach out through the official Facebook page of the DMW Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons Program to receive free legal assistance.

DMW reiterated its call to be cautious with job offers and avoid undergoing transactions online to avoid falling victim to illegal recruiters and human trafficking. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News