MANILA, Philippines — Twelve overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are currently detained in Malaysia after being caught using fake entry permits and stamps for jobs supposedly in Laos, the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau said.

The group, composed of four men and eight women, was arrested on February 5, 2025, and later sentenced on March 20 after attempting to enter Laos via Malaysia using falsified documents. 

They were reportedly recruited through Telegram by individuals identified as “HR Ara” and “Joey,” who offered them call center jobs with a promised monthly salary of P50,000.

The OFWs traveled from Manila to Puerto Princesa, then passed through Dipolog City, Zamboanga City, Basilan, and Siasi before crossing into Sabah and arriving in Kota Kinabalu. 

They were intercepted at the Malaysia-Thailand border.

Their sentence was later reduced to three months following government assistance, it said. 

The men are currently detained in Perlis, while the women are held in Kedah. They are expected to be released by June 2025.