Over 200 Filipinos were sent home from Myanmar after the government found they were being used for human trafficking and scamming. In a previous report, 187 Filipinos have been brought home. Despite this, a lawmaker reminded Filipinos to be wary of scamming groups.
In an interview for Isyung Pambayan on Sunday, March 30, Kabayan Partylist Rep. Ron Salo cautioned Filipinos about so-called companies or agencies that recruit the majority of their workers via text message and social media. According to the former, Filipinos who apply for these companies are sent to Thailand because the country does not require a visa.
“Madali po kasi pumunta sa Thailand dahil hindi po natin kailangan po ng visa. Anytime pwede po tayo lumipad [papunta] po dyan as turista. Kaya ito po yung naging back door na pamamaraan po ng kababayan po natin na nare-recruit sila from Myanmar, pero padadaanin po muna sa Thailand dahil kapag sa Myanmar diretso, definitely, ma-iistop po sila,” he said.
Salo explained that recruiters invite the employees to fly to Thailand, before traveling to Myanmar by land.
“Kaya dinadaan po nila sa Thailand, then from Thailand, sila po ay nagta-travel by land, papunta po Myanmar dahil border lang naman po yung pagitan nila. Ang nangyayari naman pagdating [nila] doon, sila naman yung ginagamit sa pang-iiscam,” he said.
“Siyempre mahirap po pag naandoon sila dahil we understand na nasa secluded [at] isolated area po sila na may kasamang threat, para siguraduhin na gagawin po nila yung gusto po ng nang-recruit po sa kanila o yung kumpanya na pinag-tatrabahuhan po nila,” he added.
“Promises”
Salo highlighted that recruiters often promise Filipinos better opportunities compared to what’s being offered in the Philippines. However, he reminded that if the promises are too good to be true, then more often than not, it’s untrue. There is always a catch, he says.
“Kaya sinasabi po natin, [na] if it’s too good to be true, then it is not true. Most likely ‘yan, may catch po yan,” he emphasized.
He questioned why these companies would offer higher pay to foreign workers if the average salary in these countries is not that high.
“Bakit tayo babayaran ng mataas? Samantalang mababa lang naman yung sweldo doon po sa lugar na iyon. Ibig sabihin nito, these are designed really para maengganyo lang po kayo para pumunta doon at the of the day, kayo po ay masasadlak bilang scammer po doon,” Salo questioned.
Once these workers arrive at the location, they are exploited and used for scam operations. Salo explained how employees are groomed to offer “products and services” to others while blackmailing customers. The lawmaker said that most workers who accepted the offer and had fallen victim to such tactics are also educated people.
One might question why these people accept the offer, but Salo emphasized that most people take the risk because the offer is something that normal workers in the Philippines have the opportunity to earn.
“Nakikita po natin na may napag-aralan, pero most likely dahil mataas po yung offer, ‘yun po yung kanilang “kinakagat” kasi nakikita nila [na] hindi natin kikitain ito sa Pilipinas kaya might as well go there,” he explained.
“Pero malaking risk po iyon. At the end of the day, sila rin po yung malalagay talaga sa alanganin, pareho po yung security at buhay nila,” he added.
Earthquakes in Myanmar and Thailand
Meanwhile, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Thailand and Myanmar earlier this week, leaving numerous people dead. In an update, Salo assured that no Filipinos were reported to be dead.
“Nakapagbigay sa atin dahil wala pong nababalita na kababayan po natin na nasawi dito po sa pangyayari na lindol sa Thailand tsaka sa Myanmar. Base po ito sa report po ng DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs], na wala po silang na report hanggang ngayon na nasawi ng mga kababayan po natin,” he said.
“I suppose that’s a relief sa mga kababayan po natin na naandito sa Pilipinas, at patuloy po na nananalangin para sa kanilang kaanak at sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay na naandyan po sa Thailand,” he added.
He also mentioned that the Philippine government is united with the humanitarian aid for the two countries, highlighting their sympathies with the two countries.
