Manila: Four Filipinos, aged 27 to 46, were repatriated from Cambodia after falling victim to scam syndicates operating in Southeast Asia, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that an investigation is underway involving individuals possibly linked to trafficking the victims, who arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on July 12 via a Philippine Airlines flight from Phnom Penh.

"We are investigating all leads, including internal lapses, and will not hesitate to file charges against any personnel found to be complicit to this crime," he said in a statement.

The BI chief added that three of those repatriated left the country as tourists, while one departed through an irregular migration corridor-commonly referred to as 'backdoor'-underscoring the need for stronger monitoring of alternative exit points.

The victims said they were enticed by online job offers promising high salaries and quick deployment to Thailand. Upon arrival, however, they were diverted to Cambodia, where they were forced to engage in fraudulent online activities such as love scams and phishing operations targeting foreign nationals.

One of the victims recounted traveling from Palawan to Kota Kinabalu via speedboat, then onward to Thailand, Myanmar, and eventually Cambodia. He experienced maltreatment, long working hours, and months without pay, prompting him to escape and seek help from the Philippine Embassy.

"Human trafficking remains one of the most insidious crimes affecting our people. These victims were lured with lies and ended up stripped of their rights and dignity. The Bureau will not stop in its efforts to identify and dismantle the networks responsible for these abuses," Viado added.

At the same time, he noted that measures are being strengthened to prevent similar incidents at airports and seaports, while coordinating closely with international and local agencies.