By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday expressed concern over the rising number of Filipinos leaving the Philippines to work for “Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO)-like” companies in other Asian countries.
In a Palace press briefing, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval noted that around 118 Filipinos have been recruited to work in “scam hubs” posing as business process outsourcing (BPO) companies.
Sandoval said the scam hubs are targeting Filipinos working in the BPO and POGOs.
“Many of our kababayans (countrymen) are being tricked into joining and being part of these scam hubs,” Sandoval said.
“We have noticed the trend [in] Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos. ‘Yun po ilang mga bansa (These are some of the countries) that our kababayans go to and we noticed they have POGO-like operations but hindi limited ito sa mga bansang ito (this is not limited to these countries),” she added.
Asked if the recruited Filipinos are unaware of the nature of their work, Sandoval said they are taking the risk, considering the good offer, including a PHP50,000 monthly salary and free tickets, accommodation, food, and hygiene kits.
Sandoval said the BI is receiving intelligence information that the recruitment is being done “inside BPOs,” adding that the initial offer is to work as customer service representatives.
“As Filipino, as an aspiring OFW, you would not have to pay for anything. It’s interesting. But when they get there, pagdating nila minsan sa (when you go to) Thailand or other countries, their passports would be taken, tinatawid sila ng border, isasakay sila ng bangka (they would cross the border, ride a boat) and they would go sa gitna ng (in the middle of the) jungle,” she said.
“‘Yung kuwento ng mga na-repatriate, sa gitna ng gubat, merong compound. Sa compound na ‘yun, parang merong (The story of the repatriates, in the middle of the jungle, there is a compound. In that compound, it seemed like there are) two areas. Sa (In the) area one is the regular BPO. So, they have regular BPO operations. Sa kabilang (In the other) building is the scam operations,” Sandoval added.
Sandoval said Filipinos working for the regular BPO are “lucky,” unlike those working for scam hubs who get “beaten” if they do not meet the regular quota.
She added that there is also a “debt bondage,” requiring the Filipino workers to pay a release fee amounting between PHP400,000 and PHP500,000 “for the cost of their recruitment.”
She said there are recruiters who have already been arrested and slapped with cases.
“Napakalaking bagay po nun sa atin kasi kahit mag-intercept tayo nang mag-intercept diyan sa paliparan buong taon, kung ang recruiter nila ay nandiyan pa rin nananatili, hindi titigil ang recruitment lalu’t lalo na, alam nating nage-expand pa itong POGO-like companies na ito sa iba’t ibang bansa (That’s a big deal for us because even if we intercept at the airport all year round, if their recruiter is still there, the recruitment will not stop, especially since we know that these POGO-like companies are still expanding in different countries). That’s why lumalaki pa ang market (the market is still growing). Kaya we’re thankful na nakakasuhan (that we were able to file a lawsuit),” Sandoval said.
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission director and spokesperson Winston Casio advised Filipinos not to be swayed by the high-paying jobs offered overseas “because it’s not worth the risk.”
“If PAOCC arrests you, together with foreign nationals in scamming hubs, we will file criminal charges against you,” he said. (PNA)
