Estrada prods gov’t agencies to probe trafficking of foreigners for cryptoscam work

(GMA NEWS) Concerned government agencies must immediately launch an investigation on cases of human trafficking involving foreigners who were recruited  to work in cryptocurrency scam, Senator Jinggoy Estrada said Thursday.

The lawmaker made the remark a day after an Indonesian identified as Ridwan shared at a Senate hearing how he passed through the airport and brought to a building which was allegedly being used as “living and working” facilities for trafficked foreigners recruited to perform scams on unknowing victims.

“Not only will it put the country in bad light but claims that there are trafficked foreigners being forced to work in cryptocurrency scam operations are very serious allegations that merit investigation by concerned agencies,” Estrada said.

He said that under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, law enforcement agencies are mandated to immediately initiate investigation and counter-trafficking-intelligence gathering upon receipt of statements or affidavit from victims or their families who are in possession of information on those trafficked individuals.

“May ngipin ang mga umiiral nating mga batas para panagutin ang sinuman na sangkot sa human trafficking at may karampatang pagkakakulong na kakaharapin sila,” he said.

During the Senate hearing Wednesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros also called on the authorities to tighten security as scammers are now “more furious and intelligent.”

She likewise warned those accomplices of the human traffickers that they may suffer a penalty of life imprisonment with a fine of P5 million.—AOL, GMA Integrated News