Ex-POGO employee nabbed for human trafficking; 8 Cambodia-bound Pinoys rescued

Authorities arrested a former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) worker at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for alleged human trafficking and rescued eight Filipinos headed to Cambodia, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Thursday.

In a statement, DMW said the suspect was intercepted on Sunday, July 13, after he attempted to send the victims to Vietnam and then Cambodia to work as scammers.

Based on the investigation, the suspect’s former Chinese employer ordered him to arrange the documents of the victims.

The eight victims were supposed to be the third batch he would send to Cambodia.

The suspect was allegedly paid via cryptocurrency for every victim he recruited.

He will be facing charges of illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

Authorities are investigating whether there are other accomplices in the illegal recruitment.

DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau urged other victims to coordinate with the agency through their official Facebook account for legal assistance. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News