Philippines rescues 29 human trafficking victims from gaming operators
Philippine authorities announced on September 30 that police have rescued 29 Myanmar and Chinese nationals who were allegedly trafficked and forced to work as "online scammers" for a gaming company in the capital Manila.
Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine authoritiesannounced on September 30 that police have rescued 29 Myanmar and Chinesenationals who were allegedly trafficked and forced to work as "onlinescammers" for a gaming company in the capital Manila.
It came amid a crackdown on so-called Philippineoffshore gaming operators, or POGOs, following reports of kidnapping, prostitution andmurder.
Maj.Gen Eliseo Cruz said there would be follow-up operations based on informationfrom the victims, adding that they had worked for companies that pretended tohave "legitimate operations of POGO" but were engaged in"illegal activities, particularly in trafficking of persons".
Two of the Myanmar victims told police that they had arrived in the Philippines in March after being recruited in Dubai towork as customer service representatives.
Theirpassports were seized and they were forced to work 14 hours a day, chattingonline with potential clients and encouraging them to "play and investmoney" as part of a scam.
Victims said theywere then sold for 3.5 million pesos to anothe♏r company and told they had torepay the money./.
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Illustrative image (Photo: Internet) 
