EDITORIAL - Willing accomplices, willing victims

There is a disturbing development in the case of the two scam hubs raided by the National Bureau of Investigation in Zamboanga Sibugay last week; some Filipinos were serving as armed guards of the Chinese operators of the scam hub.

Collusion might even include some local officials who allowed the scam hub to be established and operated.

This makes them in effect complicit in the crime.

There was another concerning development the week prior; three Filipinas were prevented from leaving the country by the Bureau of Immigration after they said they were vacationing in Vietnam, but actually had Cambodia as their final destination.

Immigration personnel suspected that they were going to engage in illegal work, possibly in scam hubs.

Being roped into illegal activities is one thing, but willfully joining them or turning a blind eye to them is quite another.

As children we are taught that criminal activity is wrong, as adults we are cautioned to be wary of offers that are too good to be true, including spurious job offers abroad.

But what are we to do when some Filipinos willingly engage in activities involving illegal recruitment or are willing to place themselves in a position to be illegally recruited?

To those who are willing to become criminals or turn a blind eye to crime, perhaps we should remind them that similar operations are victimizing Filipinos in other parts of the world, perhaps even someone they know and love. Will that at least prick their conscience a bit?

To those who are willing to take risks, perhaps we should remind them that they will get into trouble that will cost more than what they expect to earn. Will that at least give them pause and encourage them to practice more caution?

We know this isn’t a perfect world. Desperation and extreme need can lead people to make terrible decisions, including turning to a life of crime, allowing crime to happen, or abandoning caution in hopes of better opportunity. But maybe some of us should pause and think before making such drastic decisions.