Philippine authorities are closely monitoring the situation of Filipinos recruited in the offshore gaming industry in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
"The Philippine government is closely monitoring the situation of Filipinos recruited in the Philippine offshore gaming operations. Hans Cacdac, the Minister of the Department of Migrant Workers, stated at the weekly news forum in Quezon City on Saturday: 'The situation of Filipinos recruited in the Philippine offshore gaming operations is not optimistic. We will not let the groups recruiting Filipinos in the offshore gaming operations leave [Ambassador Deena Joy] Amatong,'"
He mentioned that Amatong discovered this group after deporting several Filipinos involved in the aforementioned offshore gaming operations.
Cacdac said that the DMW, the Department of Justice, and law enforcement agencies are pursuing the groups recruiting Filipinos.
The Secretary of DMW stated that they are collecting information on each rescued Filipino to help authorities identify the Filipino recruiters.
"We are also closely working with the Department of Justice. Ambassador Cada Uvi Mga Pinabovi Ni stated that the anti-illegal recruitment unit is taking statements, which could be from Filipinos or Filipino recruiters and are submitted immediately. I support the DOJ in presenting appropriate complaints to the prosecutors," Cacdac said.
Amatong reported that 160 Filipinos involved in offshore gaming operations have been deported from the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
In August, after a crackdown on "illegal activities" in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo Province, Laos, 125 Filipino overseas workers who fell victim to the Laotian online scam centers were deported back to the Philippines. Amatong encouraged the rescued Filipinos to cooperate with Philippine authorities to avoid illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
She also hopes that upon their return, they can seek better legal opportunities for themselves and their families.
The Philippine Embassy in Vientiane stated that it is working with the Laotian government to ensure the protection of Filipinos who may still be in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
