Migrante International and relatives of 10 migrants who are victims of human trafficking in Cambodia held a press conference on April 21. The families of the victims said their relatives were promised jobs in Cambodia as customer service representatives (CSR) with a salary of $700 per month. Upon arrival in Cambodia, they were hired to spread scams, targeting Filipinos in the US.

They said that their victims experienced severe torture, including detention without food and physical abuse unless they obey their employers’ orders.

When their employers found out that they sought help from the Philippine embassy in Cambodia, their belongings were confiscated and some of them were beaten. Instead of taking them to a shelter, police detained them without access to water, food, or a toilet for several weeks.

Despite the embassy’s rescue of the migrants and assistance for their return to the Philippines, their ordeal has still not been reported as a case of human trafficking. They are calling for justice for their relatives.

The migrants returned home only on April 20 but they their families have yet to see them.