Continuing recruitment

THERE has been no lack of news reports along with warnings issued by government agencies. Yet Filipinos continue to fall for human traffickers who recruit workers for cryptocurrency scamming syndicates overseas.

Some of the victims have been rescued in countries particularly Myanmar, whose borders with Thailand and Laos are favored by lawless elements including opium traders and now cryptocurrency scam rings. Philippine authorities have also intercepted potential victims before they can leave the country.

immigration officials. Other victims were offered jobs supposedly in business process outsourcing companies in Thailand and Cambodia, but found themselves working in cryptocurrency scam operations.

Last month, Bureau of Immigration officers intercepted six Filipinos – three at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Jan. 20, and another three at Clark International Airport in Pampanga on Jan. 31. The six, who all initially claimed they were traveling as part of a group tour, were about to board flights to Thai capital Bangkok, with three of them saying their final destination was Laos.

Those bound for Laos said they were offered jobs as a customer service representative for P40,000 a month, sales representative and cook supposedly in an investment company. The other three said they were initially promised jobs in a cargo company, but were later told they would work as encoders and e-games staff with salaries of $1,000 a month.

All six said they met the recruitment agents through social messaging apps – a common story among human trafficking victims, according to

Babe’s

Eye View

NO doubt the visit, the 2nd visit in fact of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, underscores the strong partnership between the United States and the Philippines, coming as it is on the heels of the previous highlevel visits of top-ranking U.S. government officials that include Vice President Kamala Harris, State Secretary Antony Blinken and a congressional delegation led by Senator Ed Markey in just a little over six months since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office.

The Pentagon informed us at the Philippine embassy in Washington, DC that Secretary Austin had wanted to include the Philippines in his itinerary, with South Korea as the original destination. We are pleased with the planned visit, especially since we have a new Defense Secretary, Charlie Galvez. The U.S. Defense chief had also indicated he had not had the opportunity to meet President Marcos. The timing was perfect since we had also just finished the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue with the United States which we hosted in Manila the other week.

Following his arrival, Secretary Austin immediately proceeded to Camp General Basilio Navarro in Zamboanga City, where he met with officials of the Armed

A Senate probe has shown that the crime rings force their foreign trafficking victims not only to operate scams but also to work long hours, with their movements restricted and their passports confiscated. Those who resist working or attempt to flee are subjected to beatings and verbal abuse.

Authorities have advised the public to be wary of illegal recruitment through social messaging and even dating apps, and to coordinate with the Department of Migrant Workers before signing up for overseas employment. Probers are also working to ferret out immigration employees reportedly colluding with human traffickers.

The skills required for these jobs require a certain level of education that should make potential recruits aware of the risks of human trafficking. But the involvement of fellow Filipinos in the recruitment plus the promises of attractive pay and benefits probably help dispel fears of potential victims. Authorities must come down hard on these recruiters and any coddlers in government.

In the meantime, those hoping to work overseas must heed the warnings of authorities about the risks of finding employment through social messaging. And if a job offer seems too good to be true, trust your instincts; it’s probably a scam, or a human trafficking racket. (Philstar.com)