Joint effort to combat human trafficking discussed at IPU assembly

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday said he and the Cambodian delegates in Geneva agreed to exert a joint effort to address the rising issue of human trafficking involving Filipinos in Cambodia.

This came after his recent meeting with Cambodian First Vice President Ouch Borith and National Assembly representative Ty Sokun, which followed his earlier manifestation at the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, where he raised alarm over the growing number of Filipino victims lured into scam hubs abroad.

Tulfo pushed for stronger cooperation between the Philippines and Cambodia in dismantling trafficking syndicates operating in the region.

The senator emphasized that many Filipinos are enticed by social media job offers promising high salaries, only to end up underpaid, exploited, or even tortured once they arrive in Cambodia.

“Human trafficking will not prosper if these syndicates are not getting the help they need from some officials,” Tulfo said, adding that the Philippines is currently investigating Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel allegedly involved in facilitating the illegal recruitment and departure of victims. He urged Cambodia to conduct similar probes into its own immigration ranks to ensure accountability on both sides.

For his part, Vice President Borith acknowledged that human trafficking remains a significant issue in Cambodia, affecting not only Filipinos but also nationals from South Korea, China, and Vietnam. He noted that the country’s lenient visa policy has made it easier for foreigners to enter, which traffickers have exploited.

Borith, however, clarified that preliminary investigations indicate that the masterminds behind these operations are foreign nationals, not Cambodians.

Still, he assured Tulfo that Cambodia is committed to working closely with Philippine authorities to stop the syndicates and protect trafficking victims.

Tulfo also raised concerns about the slow repatriation of rescued Filipinos, which he said can take up to a month.

“If you can help us make repatriation faster, that would be a big help. Maybe we can shorten it from one month to two or three days,” he urged.

In response, Borith provided a direct phone line to Cambodia’s Director General, which the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) can use to coordinate immediate rescues of Filipino victims.

Both sides also addressed the growing threat of fake news, agreeing that misinformation has become a shared challenge for their countries and must be addressed through improved communication and increased public awareness.

Tulfo thanked the Cambodian representatives for their openness and willingness to cooperate, expressing optimism that stronger collaboration between the two nations will lead to faster rescues, fairer investigations, and an eventual end to human trafficking operations targeting Filipinos abroad.