MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the safe return of a 31-year-old Filipino man who was rescued after falling victim to human trafficking, having left the country under a falsified work identity.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the victim arrived in the Philippines on the morning of November 5 aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Cambodia.

According to the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), the victim departed the Philippines in August 2024, claiming to be a travel agency employee bound for Malaysia on a short work-related trip.

After arriving in Malaysia, he flew to Cambodia, where he was recruited to work as a Customer Service Representative for an e-commerce firm handling a United States account. Instead, he was forced to join a scam operation targeting middle-aged victims in the US and Europe.

“The victim later realized that the consequences were far more severe than simply skipping meals; he was subjected to torture, including prolonged squatting exercises, electrocution, and extended exposure to direct sunlight,” Viado said.

The victim said he was unable to resign after his employers demanded a USD 5,000 bond. He was eventually rescued with the help of the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia.

Viado reminded Filipinos to be vigilant when considering overseas job offers. “While online recruitment can offer opportunities, this case teaches us that Filipinos must exercise extreme caution when dealing with overseas job offers, especially those requiring upfront payments or imposing unusual conditions,” he said.

The BI also thanked the National Alliance of International Filipino Air Traffic Technicians (NAIAFFAT) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for assisting the victim upon his return.