Lazaro, Thai FM tackle online scams, transnational crime in bilateral talks

CEBU CITY - Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro on Wednesday discussed with her Thai counterpart the issue of transnational crimes, such as online scams, which involved and victimized many Filipinos.

Traffickers in the past three years have exploited Filipinos and other foreigners in forced labor in online scam operation facilities, which have expanded rapidly in the Thai border, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.  

Lazaro also said she discussed with Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow the renewed disputes between Thailand and Cambodia, two of the bloc's members locked in a violent border conflict that has escalated into a deadly armed conflict and has drawn international concern.

"I had a productive meeting with [Thailand] FM @SihasakPh at the #ASEAN FM Retreat, where we exchanged candid views on the situation in Myanmar and the Cambodia-Thailand border, as well as on other regional issues, particularly online scams and other transnational organized crimes," Lazaro said on X. 

"We both reaffirmed the central role of ASEAN in maintaining peace and stability in the region."

An undetermined number of Filipinos remained trapped in various scam farms across Southeast Asia, the Department of Foreign Affairs said, but assured that government efforts to free them are underway.

Many victims of scam farm operations who were initially promised legal jobs are kidnapped and sold to other fraudulent operations, according to United Nations rapporteurs.

The DFA advised all Filipinos to go through proper foreign employment procedures established by the Department of Migrant Workers before departing the country for overseas employment. —VBL, GMA Integrated News