Pakistan ‘new trafficking route’ of Pinoy victims–BI
Filipinos are now being recruited to work illegally in online gaming hubs in Pakistan, a “new trafficking route” uncovered by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
On Sunday four Filipinos intercepted at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) were found to be headed for Pakistan, the bureau said in a statement on Monday, calling it “a dangerous shift in trafficking patterns.”
“This is a deeply disturbing trend. We are now seeing victims being funneled to Pakistan for illegal online work—clearly a new scheme from the same criminal playbook tied to illegal Pogos (Philippine offshore gaming operators),” Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in the statement.
“This shows how traffickers are becoming more aggressive and deceptive,” he added.
‘Told to lie’
The alleged victims—a man and three women all in their late 30s to early 40s—were about to leave for Hong Kong through Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 110 at Naia Terminal 3.
They initially claimed to be traveling for vacation. But as immigration authorities conducted a more thorough questioning, the group later admitted that their final destination was Pakistan.
According to these passengers, one of them would be working as a cook and the rest as cleaners in an online gaming compound.
They said they were recruited by a Chinese who promised them monthly salaries ranging from P35,000 to P45,000. They were also instructed to pose as tourists and were provided with cash for their travel.
“These people were promised jobs, but were told to lie about their purpose of travel and wait for further instructions overseas. This modus operandi reeks of exploitation and abuse,” Viado said.
‘False promises’
The BI said it had relayed its findings to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further investigation into the recruiters.
Viado urged Filipinos seeking to work overseas to “be cautious of anyone offering too-good-to-be-true opportunities abroad, especially if you’re instructed to lie or pose as a tourist.”
“These victims were scammed, and almost trafficked out of the country under false promises,” he said.
The government has been confronted for some time by reports of Filipinos being trafficked to various countries, particularly in this region.
Crypto scammers
During a Senate hearing in November 2022, Sen. Risa Hontiveros presented a man, identified only as “Paulo,” who claimed to have been illegally recruited to work in a telemarketing company in Mae Sot, Thailand, but later learned that it was actually for a crypto-scamming job in Myanmar.
That month, the senator also gave a privilege speech about 12 other Filipino workers promised jobs in Thailand who ended up as crypto scammers in Myanmar.
The next month, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered an investigation into reports of Filipinos being recruited to other crypto-scamming jobs in Myanmar.
In January 2023, a trafficking victim identified only as “Ron” told a Senate hearing that he was forced to work for a cryptocurrency scamming firm in Cambodia after being lured by a job offer there posted on Facebook.
Last year, the BI exposed various trafficking schemes including fake pilgrimages, mail-order bride arrangements and illegal surrogacy. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
