Philippine authorities say they have freed more than 1,000 people from various Asian countries who had been held captive by criminals. A police spokeswoman said today that a raid in Mabalacat, about 90 kilometers north of Manila, freed 1,090 people who had been forced into online scams. According to them, they were supposed to trick unsuspecting people in the US, Canada and Europe.
Detainees’ passports were confiscated and they were forced to work up to 18 hours a day, with wage deductions for offenses such as contact with colleagues and too long breaks.
“You are like a prisoner without a cell. It’s not even allowed to talk to the roommates,” the spokeswoman for the AFP news agency said. People were therefore not allowed to leave the property. After work, they were taken to their dormitories.
According to the police, most of the victims were from China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. But among them were also nationals of Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Myanmar, Hong Kong and Nepal.
Fake romantic relationships
The workers were taught how to trick strangers into buying cryptocurrency or transferring money to bogus accounts after faking a romantic relationship, the police spokeswoman said. At least twelve suspects from different Asian countries have been arrested. They are accused of human trafficking.
According to the information, the police action followed a request from the Indonesian ambassador in Manila to help find nationals. Last month, Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros warned that “scam call centers” were operating in the Philippines with illegally imported foreigners.
