SENATE minority leader Risa Hontiveros yesterday alleged members of the Chinese mafia have been preying on unsuspecting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) recruited to work Thailand.
In a privilege speech, Hontiveros also said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has recently rescued 12 Filipino workers in Myanmar, who were originally recruited to work as customer service representatives or data encoders in a call center office supposedly based in Thailand.
Hontiveros said the workers ended up as crypto currency “scammers” allegedly run by Chinese mafia operating in Myanmar.
“Ngunit pagdating sa Thailand, kung saan inaakala nila magta-trabaho sila, hinila sila ng mga alagad ng Chinese mafia na ito sa Myanmar upang gawing scammer na gumagamit ng crypto currency. At kapag wala silang na-scam or nahuthutan sa pamamagitan ng crypto, hindi sila pinapakain, hindi sila pinapasweldo, ibinebenta sila sa ibang kompanya at higit sa lahat pinagbabantaan ang kanilang buhay
(Upon arrival in Thailand, where they thought they will work, they were intercepted by members of the Chinese mafia and brought to Myanmar to work as scammers using crypto currencies. And when they fail to scam people, they will not be fed, they will not be given salaries, and they will be sold to other companies and worse, they are threatened),” Hontiveros said.
She said one of the rescued OFWs revealed that the Chinese mafia is supposedly planning to create an all-Filipino team of scammers who will operate in Myanmar.
Filipinos are preferred because of their proficiency in the use of the English language.
“These Chinese mafias are making the Philippines an incubator of scammers. My dear colleagues, I hope you are one with me in saying that we are not and will never be known as a nation of scammers,” Hontiveros said.
During the 18th Congress, Hontiveros exposed the modus operandi of corrupt Bureau of Immigration personnel involved in the “pastillas scam” in airports where they facilitate the seamless entry of Chinese tourists using the Visa Upon Arrival scheme with a fee.
She said her office has also been monitoring the fate of OFWs who have exited the country for jobs abroad even if they are not qualified due to age requirements.
Hontiveros said the rescue of the 12 OFWs in Myanmar is proof that the modus operandi still exists but in a modified way since most of those involved have already been charged and reassigned to other units.
She said the fate of the 12 OFWs was known by authorities after one of them mustered enough courage to send an email to the DFA, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and some non-government organizations.
Hontiveros said she was able to talk to one of the 12 OFWs who gave her the details of the Chinese mafia modus operandi and how recruitment agencies
coached them on how to slip past immigration officers.
She said they also learned that the place where these OFWs were brought in Myanmar was the Shwe Kokko Special Economic Zone or the Yatai New City, which she said was owned by the Yatai International Holdings Group run by She Zhijang, who was arrested by Thai authorities last month.
Hontiveros said She Zhijang has multiple business interests in the Philippines.
“A company name Yatai International Corporation is associated with Linconn Ong. Pareho lang kaya ang (Is) Yatai International Corporation and Yatai International Holdings Group (the same)? Para kaya itong (Is it like) Pharmally International Holdings, Pharmally Biological Company at Pharmally Pharmaceutical Company? These links must be brough to light and further be investigated,” she added.
“I am calling on the Department of Justice and the Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking to investigate these syndicates and their accomplices for jeopardizing the future of many Filipino women and families. And who gave the green light that allowed such procedure to thrive?” she added.
