PH Embassy in Phnom Penh Successfully Repatriated 27 Human Trafficking Victims

Twenty-seven Filipino victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment in Cambodia at Phnom Penh International Airport (Phnom Penh PE photo)

PHNOM PENH 12 January 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh repatriated 27 Filipino nationals who were victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment in Cambodia on 08 December 2023.

The 27 victims arrived in Cambodia on various dates; most of them came as tourists but with pre-arranged employment as either customer service representatives or interpreters in an unnamed company engaged in online scamming activities. Through the Embassy’s coordination with the Cambodian National Police, the 27 Filipino victims were rescued while they were in the process of being transferred to another online scamming facility. 

Ambassador Amelita C. Aquino visits the 27 Filipino victims at Caritas Cambodia on 7 December 2023 (Phnom Penh PE photo)

Prior to their flight, Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Maria Amelita C. Aquino, visited the 27 victims at Caritas Cambodia where they were temporarily sheltered while pre-departure clearance was undertaken. In her conversation with the 27 victims, Ambassador Aquino assured them of the Philippine Government’s readiness to repatriate and assist them. The Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) provided the funds for their immediate repatriation. This is the largest group of repatriated victims of human trafficking in Cambodia, to date.

Representatives from the Philippine Embassy, Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSAVYR) of Cambodia, the General Department of Immigration (GDI), the National Committee for Countering Trafficking (NCCT), the Cambodian National Police (CNP), CARITAS Cambodia and A21 organization were present during the repatriation which began in the late evening of 7 December 2023 at the Phnom Penh International Airport. The Philippine Embassy, through Consul General Emma Sarne, extended her sincere appreciation for the assistance rendered by the Cambodian Government in rescuing the 27 victims and for the support in the Embassy’s efforts to assist Filipinos who have been victimized by human trafficking and illegal recruitment syndicates. She also extended appreciation to Caritas Cambodia, the International Organization for Migration in Cambodia, the A21 Foundation, and the Samahan ng mga Pilipino sa Cambodia (SAMAPI) for the care and assistance they have given to the 27 victims while awaiting their repatriation.

The 27 human trafficking victims were met at NAIA Terminal 3 by a joint team of DFA-OUMWA, the Department of Justice Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on 08 December 2023. 

Assistant Secretary Robert O. Ferrer, Jr. of DFA-OUMWA welcomes the 27 Filipino victims at NAIA Terminal 3 on 08 December 2023 (DFA-OUMWA photo)

The Philippine Embassy strongly advises our kababayan to be vigilant and cautious of dubious jobs offered through social media, and to engage only with licensed Philippine recruitment agencies to prevent falling victim to illegal recruitment and human trafficking schemes. END

From L-R: Ms.Tek Sopheak of Caritas Cambodia , Consul General Emma R. Sarne, Maj. Tach Ronakse of GDI, Mr. Youk Sopheak of MoSAVYR, Mr. Sek Siveth of NCCT and Mr. Ros Yeng of A21 (Phnom Penh PE photo)

MoSAVYR formally handed over the 27 victims to the Philippine Embassy which immediately repatriated them on 8 December 2023. From L-R: Mr. Triv Keat of CNP, Maj. Tach Ronakse of GDI, Mr. Youk Sopheak of MoSAVYR, Consul General Emma R. Sarne and M, Sek Siveth of NCCT (Phnom Penh PE photo)