31 More Filipinos May Be Trafficking Victims in Myanmar

After the revelation of Senator Risa Hontiveros last week, November 21, regarding the large-scale human trafficking syndicate, the senator disclosed that more or less 31 more Filipinos may be victims and needs rescuing in Myanmar.

In a privilege speech, Hontiveros unearths the syndicate in the country–the ring was said to be based in China— revealing that Filipinos are deceived into believing they are being recruited to work as call center agents or data encoders in Thailand but were instead kidnapped and were then forced to be crypto scammers targeting foreigners. (Read more: Sen. Hontiveros Reveals Plot to Recruit OFWs to be Crypto Scammers Abroad)

According to the Senator, one of the 12 victims who were recently rescued believes that there are still 31 other Filipinos who may need to be saved.

The senator also revealed that aside from being forced to scam people, Filipinos also receive corporal punishment where they were sold to other companies and even receive death threats. According to her, the Chinese mafia is also planning to establish a team of Filipino scammers in Myanmar.

“These Chinese mafias are making the Philippines an incubator of scammers. We are not and will never be known as a nation of scammers,” Hontiveros wrote in a Facebook post.

Currently, she assured that government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment are working on the case. Authorities are also tracking down the alleged recruiter of the 12 priorly rescued Filipinos who goes by the alias “Len.”

On the other hand, the Philippine National Police – Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) to always conduct due diligence and be wary of investments in fake cryptocurrency investments especially this coming holiday season. (Read more: PNP Tells Public: Be Cautious in Fake Crypto Investments as Holiday Season Gets Nearer)

This article is published on BitPinas: 31 More Filipinos May Be Trafficking Victims in Myanmar

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