02/01/2026
๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ-๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐๐ค ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ค๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐
๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฌ
MANILA, Philippines โ The Bureau of Immigration (BI reported the year-end repatriation of several Filipinos who were victimized by organized scam operations abroad, warning that despite increased awareness, many Filipinos continue to fall prey to evolving trafficking and fraud schemes.
The BI said the most recent repatriation involved eight Filipino victims aged in their early 20s to late 30s who were rescued and returned to the Philippines after being trafficked overseas on December 31.
The victims were lured through online recruitment and social media offers, only to be forced into fraudulent activities upon arrival.
The victims arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on board an Air Asia flight from Cambodia, via Malaysia.
According to the BI, a new modus has emerged wherein Filipino victims are compelled to participate in stock market-related scams. Victims are instructed to solicit fellow Filipinos to invest in so-called stock trading platforms or pseudo investment accounts that appear legitimate but are entirely controlled by criminal syndicates.
Investigations revealed that victims who failed to meet daily quotas or resisted orders were subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including torture, intimidation, and deprivation, to force compliance.
Meanwhile, a second batch of 19 Filipino repatriates arrived on the same day at the NAIA Terminal 1 on board a Philippine Airlines flight from Cambodia. The batch included four Pinoys who left via an irregular migration corridor, more commonly known as backdoor in Palawan.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued a strong warning to the public, stressing that these syndicates deliberately exploit the trust of Filipinos and prey on their financial aspirations.
โThese criminal groups are ruthless. They deceive Filipinos with promises of high-paying jobs and easy money, then subject them to abuse once they are trapped. Let this serve as a strong warning: no legitimate employer will require you to scam your own countrymen or invest through unofficial platforms,โ Viado said.
Viado urged Filipinos to be vigilant, particularly against unsolicited job offers and investment opportunities circulated online, and to verify overseas employment and investment schemes through proper government channels.
He added that the BI is intensifying coordination with local and international law enforcement agencies to dismantle these scam networks and hold those behind the operations accountable.
โThe Bureau of Immigration is working closely with law enforcement partners to track, disrupt, and dismantle these scam rings. We are committed to protecting Filipinos and preventing these syndicates from continuing to victimize our people,โ he said. #
