MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has repatriated 27 Filipinas rescued from a sex trafficking syndicate in Malaysia last month.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday warned Filipinos seeking jobs abroad against sex trafficking syndicates using social media to offer work in Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries.
“We urge our kababayans to think twice before applying for the various job opportunities abroad that are being offered online,” Cayetano said.
“There are numerous cases of Filipino jobseekers who apply for these online job offers but end up in virtual bondage in a number of countries abroad,” he added.
The 27 Filipinas – who arrived in the country last Wednesday – were rescued by the Malaysian police at an apartment in Johor Baru, located an hour from Singapore, on Aug. 15.
In interviews conducted by embassy representatives and the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center, the victims said they were trafficked to Malaysia and Singapore in four batches between June and July.
According to them, they were recruited in the Philippines to be so-called “promodizers” selling liquor to customers in four establishments in Singapore.
They said they did this on a commission basis but were later made to do sexual services as well.
“The women were mostly recruited through social media for work in Singapore, but were told that they will enter and exit the country from Malaysia but were there only on tourist visas,” Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles Jose said.
He reminded Filipinos wishing to work in Malaysia to be wary of job offers from recruiters who will have them enter the country as tourists but with the promise of securing work visas for them upon arrival.
Cayetano said Filipinos who want to work abroad should first check job offers with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency or the Department of Labor and Employment before applying for them.