CIDG rescues 3 workers allegedly forced to memorize ‘love scam’ scripts

MANILA — Three Filipino workers were rescued from a condominium in Malate, Manila, where they were allegedly detained and forced to memorize scripts for love scam operations before deployment to a suspected scam hub in the Visayas, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said.

The CIDG is now tracking the alleged scam hub, where more than 20 other Filipinos may have already been sent after similar “training”.

PCol. John Guiagui, chief of the Metro Manila CIDG, said the operation stemmed from a complaint by a man who could no longer communicate with his wife.

Guiagui said the woman managed to borrow a cellphone and send her husband a message identifying her location and asking authorities to rescue her because she and other workers could not leave the condominium or contact their families.

“Luckily nakapag-text itong asawa nito nung lumapit sa atin at sinabi kung saan yung lugar,” he told reporters at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday.

(Luckily, the wife of the man who came to us was able to send a message and told us where they were.)

The CIDG, in coordination with the Manila Police District, conducted the operation on October 28, rescuing three workers — two women and one man — including the wife of the complainant.

Two foreign nationals were arrested. They were dentified as “Pen,” a 32-year-old Taiwanese, and “Lee,” a 38-year-old Malaysian.

Guiagui said the condominium served as a recruitment and training facility for Filipinos who were promised jobs at a communication center or as virtual assistants.

The recruits were allegedly trained on how to communicate with clients, persuade them and carry out scams using prepared scripts.

Once they passed the training, the workers would allegedly be sent to a province in the Visayas where the actual scam hub was established.

Guiagui said the suspects had been using a messaging app to recruit Filipinos, particularly those looking for employment.

The victims were promised money in exchange for work as virtual assistants.

“That’s why sumasama ang mga ito. Hindi sila pinapayagang makauwi during training kasi tinitrain sila rito. Hindi rin sila pinapayagang makatawag sa pamilya nila.”

(That is why they agree to come here. They are not allowed to go home during training and they are not allowed to call their families.)

Guiagui added that the suspects had been operating for months now—with some of their recruits allegedly already sent to the Visayas before the raid.

“More than 20, hindi natin alam (we do not know exactly how many),” Guiagui said.

The two foreign nationals have undergone inquest proceedings for violations of Republic Act 10364, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, as well as Articles 267 (Serious Illegal Detention) and 286 (Grave Coercion) of the Revised Penal Code.

Guiagui noted that the suspected operation was smaller in scale than the large Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator compounds previously raided by authorities.

“Maybe remnants ito ng mga naunang… Kasi unang-una, naghigpit din sa Cambodia. Thailand naghigpit na din doon. Nakikita natin parang bumabalik. Parang bumabalik sila dito sa atin,” the police official also said.

(These may be remnants of earlier [operations] because authorities have cracked down in Cambodia and Thailand. We’re seeing that it seems like they are coming back here.)

The CIDG is encouraging individuals with information about the alleged operation or possible victims to come forward and coordinate with authorities.

Guiagui said the initial complaints focused on serious illegal detention and human trafficking, but authorities are also looking into possible physical abuse.

He warned that the workers already sent to the Visayas could face further abuses if authorities fail to locate the suspected scam hub and rescue them.