1 day ago
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Three Filipinos who moved to Cambodia to work as call center agents opened up about the abuse they were subjected to after learning that the company was a scam hub.
'Alice', 'Weng', and 'Ben' were rescued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and returned to the Philippines on March 16. They personally shared their stories with Jessica Soho on Sunday's episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho."
'Alice' from Leyte and 'Weng' from Laguna have been working as call center agents or customer service representatives in the Philippines for years. They would earn P19,000 to P23,000 per month. 'Ben', on the other hand, is a restaurant manager.
All three were eventually recruited, having been promised that they would earn $1,000, or a maximum of P55,000 per month, more than double their salary in the Philippines.
'Alice' learned about the job through a friend who already works in Cambodia. After she expressed interest in the job, she was directed to human resources, who was also a Filipino living in Cambodia.
'Ben' and 'Weng' were both referred to by a friend who also works in Cambodia.
'Weng' said that after a brief interview and passing with HR, the flight was scheduled for the very next day.
On January 7, 'Alice', 'Weng', 'Ben' and more new recruits traveled to Cambodia. However, it was an odd and complicated journey. They then boarded a boat instead of a plane. After six hours on the boat, they arrived in Sabah, Malaysia.
"Doon po kami tinatakan ng fake stamp po na departure po na galing po kami na Pinas," Ben said. "Hindi po kami tinatakan ng immigration sa Pilipinas. 'Yung galing pong Malaysia 'yung tatak."
["We were given a fake departure stamp indicating that we departed from the Philippines. However, we were never stamped by Philippine immigration– the stamp originated from Malaysia."]
This means that the group did not have records that they departed the Philippines.
The journey continued with a land trip to Kota Kinabalu, then a flight to Kuala Lumpur, land travel to the Thailand border, before flying to Bangkok from the Hat Yai Airport. After Bangkok, they traveled to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Then on January 16, after almost 10 days, they arrived at their destination in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.
Finally in Cambodia, they started work right away. Their first tasks were to create Twitter and Instagram accounts.
"Doon po kami naghahanap ng mga businesswoman po, mga professional po na babae. 'Yun po 'yung ginagamit namin na katauhan po namin," 'Weng' said.
["We sought out businesswomen and professional women– those were the identities we assumed."]
It was this time when they learned the job was not for a call center, but a scam hub—love scam as they describe. 'Alice' said they were tasked to look for Americans aged 55 and above because they were retired and had nothing to do.
"'Pag nakuha na po 'yung loob, du'n po papasok po 'yung investment. Parang huhuthutan po namin sila ng pera. Tapos 'yung investment po na usapan ipapasa po namin sa mga Chinese, sila na po 'yung gagawa," 'Alice' said.
["Once we gained their trust, the investment phase would begin. Our role was to extract money from them and then hand over the agreed-upon investment to the Chinese, who would handle the actual operations."]
"'Yung sahod na pinangako nila $1000 a month. Pero nu'ng naka-isang buwan na po kami, ang sinahod lang namin $300 lang," she added.
["They promised a salary of $1000 a month. But after a month, we only received $300."]
The workers were told they had a lower salary due to company deductions.
Thankfully, 'Alice', 'Weng', and 'Ben', did not victimize any people as they were still trainees. Right there and then, they knew it was a scam and no longer wanted to work there.
'Alice' said the company checked all their chats. They found out that their group wanted to change companies. The group was then called by the big boss. 'Ben' was the first one to be laid off.
'Ben' was then brought to the company's hideout. He cried, "Parang hinuhukayan nila para po 'pag may namatay po, du'n po nila ililibing."
["They dug holes so that when someone died, they could be buried there."]
He was imprisoned, and for ten days, he was deprived of food and water. Believing 'Ben' would escape, they monitored him even while bathing. He was also tortured to the point where he feared for his life.
"Iniisip ko na lang talaga 'yung magulang ko po. Kasi paano na lang po 'pag namatay po kami? Hindi po alam ng mga magulang namin na ganu'n po 'yung mangyayari sa amin. Pinagbantaan din po nila kaming hahanapin din po 'yung pamilya namin at patayin. Kaya natatakot po kami," 'Ben' said.
["I just keep thinking about my parents—what would happen to them if we died? They have no idea what we're going through. They also threatened to find our family and kill them, which is why we're so scared."]
Meanwhile, 'Alice' and 'Weng' were called and brought to various places where they were beaten. 'Alice' said she was grabbed by the hair and shoved to the ground, carried then thrown again.
'Alice' woke up because she felt something hot, which turned out to be cigarette burns. 'Weng' had similar experiences right after 'Alice' was brought out from the van. She said she was kicked and hit.
'Alice' said that after they were beaten, the employers suddenly stopped. They then drove away and left them.
"Tapos 'yung passport po binigay po sa amin. Tapos sinabi po nilang 'Go to embassy.' 'Yun lang po 'yung huling sinabi po nila," 'Alice' said.
["They handed us our passports and said, 'Go to the embassy.' That was the last thing they told us."]
The group came across a Cambodian. They borrowed a cellphone and asked for help. Unfortunately, it was fruitless. Their passports had been posted with an advisory saying there would be a reward if they were found.
From there, 'Weng' messaged a close friend and shared the whole story. The friend went to them and brought them to a safe house where they lived for one week.
They also learned that the Filipinos who recruited them were glad about their fate, and said it really hurt them because "kapwa Pinoy lang po 'yung mismong naggaganun po sa amin."
["It was our fellow Filipinos who were doing those things to us."]
'Alice' then contacted her parents. Kapuso journalist John Consulta also reached out to their group and connected them with the NBI to bring them home safely.
Now that they are back, the group remains traumatized.
"Tuwing nakakakita po kami talaga ng Chinese, natatakot na po kami. Baka po kasi balikan kami, baka po kakilala nila," 'Ben' shared.
["Every time we see Chinese people, we get scared– afraid that they might come back for us, or be connected to those who hurt us."]
'Alice' said there were around 40 Filipinos who stayed in Cambodia, some of whom wanted to go home but stayed for the money.
Another Filipino in Cambodia, 'Mon,' recently asked to be rescued.
He said in a video, "Presidente BBM, humihingi po kami ng tulong sa inyo. Mga NBI, tulungan ninyo po kami dito. Hindi po namin alam na dito po kami dinala. Ginagawa po kaming scammer dito sa may Cambodia po."
["President BBM, we are asking for your help. NBI, please assist us. We had no idea we were being brought here. They are forcing us to become scammers in Cambodia."]
'Mon' sent the video to his mother, 'Norma.' 'Norma' said 'Mon' had always wanted to work abroad, and even brought him to the airport. His travel was on March 5 to Hong Kong, Thailand, and then Cambodia.
'Mon' worries about his safety after hearing what happened to 'Alice', 'Weng', and 'Ben'. His mother called on the authorities and went to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking or the IACAT.
'Ben' said they are now coordinating with the NBI to file a case against their employers and HR recruiters. The group has pictures of the Cambodia-based HR representative, Ming Yu, and those who abused them.
'Alice' called on the public, "Kapag nakita n'yo po ang mukha na ito, huwag na huwag po kayo magtitiwala. Kasi marami na po siyang naipadalang Pilipino papuntang Cambodia."
["If you see this person, do not trust them under any circumstances. They have already sent many Filipinos to Cambodia."]
She also has a warning for those who want to pursue jobs abroad: "Para po sa mga Pinoy na gustong mag-abroad lalo na 'pag first time, huwag po kayong magtitiwala. Lalo na kung 'yung nagre-recruit sa inyo is walang agency tapos alyas lang ang ginagamit. Huwag na huwag po kayong mahuhulog sa malaking sahod. Kasi lahat ng 'yan ay masama ang gawain."
["For Filipinos who want to work abroad, especially first-timers, please don't trust easily– especially if the recruiter has no agency and only uses an alias. Don't be lured by promises of high salaries, as they often involve doing bad deeds."]
—JCB, GMA Integrated News
