Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Just when you think that last year’s ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) would keep us safe from this scourge comes the news report that more than 200 Filipinos were rescued Monday from illegal scam hubs in Myanmar, and are now awaiting repatriation.

The rescued workers are victims of human trafficking schemes, with most of them enticed by lucrative online job offers purportedly as customer service representatives in Thailand. According to the Department of Migrant Workers, more than 1,454 Filipinos have been rescued from Pogo-like scam hubs in Southeast Asia over the past two years,

Their plight parallels that of workers in Pogo hubs raided last year: kept in prison-like facilities, forced to operate online scams, and tortured if unable to meet a steep quota in fraudulent crypto currency investments.

With a Pogo ban in place, these criminal enterprises seem to have moved operations to less restrictive countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar that in recent years have become a haven for transnational crimes. Many of the Filipino victims are professionals with backgrounds in information technology and had previously worked in Pogo hubs. Others had entered Myanmar using student or business visas, while some had taken the ‘backdoor routes’ such as Palawan and Tawi-Tawi.

The latest rescue has prompted the Philippine National Police to tap its counterparts in neighboring countries to track down recruiters and financiers involved in the job scams and human trafficking schemes. Indeed, bolstering law enforcement and justice systems in the region can encourage victims to report and pursue cases against their traffickers.

Dubious jobs

Police departments, border security, and specialized task forces can meanwhile leverage technology to track traffickers and zero in on their financial assets with help from antimoney laundering agencies.

More than just repeated reminders for jobseekers to verify overseas job offers online, the government must intensify its information campaign to increase public awareness and people’s skills in recognizing red flags in suspicious hiring activities. Internet safety education should be a priority for the Department of Information and Communications Technology, as eager fresh graduates may be susceptible to aggressive recruitment tactics for jobs too good to be true.

And who can blame them, given that as of August 2025, the country’s unemployment rate stands at 3.9 percent which translates to about 2.03 million jobless individuals.

Similarly, the Bureau of Immigration should be more discerning in screening outgoing Filipinos on student or tourist visas who may be en route to dubious jobs in neighboring countries.

Emergency response

Just as crucial is the establishment of a clear and accessible line of coordination between migrant groups, civil society, and Philippine authorities to ensure swift and effective emergency response for trafficked Filipino workers. Survivors must have access to justice, protection, and repatriation, and provided assistance for reintegration and legitimate employment as well as counseling services.

Tech companies and social media platforms must be pressured as well to intervene and prevent traffickers from abusing the internet by flagging and removing fake job postings, improving internal reporting mechanisms, and enhancing data protection.

For its part, the Department of Justice must vigorously push for the investigation and prosecution of the recruiters and sponsors behind the trafficking of Filipino workers. A closer coordination with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking wouldn’t hurt either, as both public and private agencies must work together to safeguard our workers abroad.

Effective deterrent

As incoming chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ meetings next year, the Philippines can initiate a stronger partnership among law enforcement agencies within the region. Enhancing international cooperation is critical to dismantling transnational crimes and strengthening antitrafficking efforts.

The most difficult but also most effective deterrent is of course to address the root cause behind the vulnerabilities of would-be victims. Countering the perennial rise in unemployment and underemployment with more economic activities, tax breaks, and incentives for small and medium enterprises to encourage job creation, and establishing social safety nets are a good start.

The rescue of victims of transnational crimes must be part of a more serious crackdown on syndicates trading on the desperation of the unemployed. The real impact would come with the arrest and prosecution of syndicate heads and big players, especially now that there are signs of similar schemes in other countries like Sri Lanka and Nigeria.

It would be willful ignorance and self-destructive folly to underestimate the scale of such scam operations, and how attractive gilded job offers can be to hungry citizens of unstable economies.

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has revived its e-Undas program to allow persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to virtually reconnect with their families on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, even as the agency moves closer to shutting down the ‘haunted’ New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa by 2028.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said the e-Undas initiative, which lets inmates hold video calls with relatives, is now running in all BuCor facilities nationwide. Families may coordinate with the bureau via email to schedule calls between Oct. 30 and Nov. 2.

All Souls’ Day Masses

‘Two or three days before Undas, they can already set their schedules through e-Dalaw,’ Catapang said in an interview on ‘Kabayan sa TeleRadyo Serbisyo.’ ‘Families may contact us through email to set their preferred time.”

All BuCor facilities will also hold Masses on All Souls’ Day, Nov. 2, including one at the NBP cemetery where inmates who died during the COVID-19 pandemic were buried.

‘We are also authorized to light candles until 10 p.m.,’ Catapang said. ‘It’s part of our way to honor the departed and lift the morale of PDLs who can’t be with their families.’

He said ghost stories are common inside the penitentiary, particularly in the so-called White House, a structure within the NBP compound where senior officers stay.

According to Catapang, lights inside the building are never turned off because of reported apparitions. ‘That’s why we never turn off the lights-they say ghosts come out when it’s dark,’ he said.

‘White house’ in Bilibid

Catapang recalled that even a priest who once visited the White House told him there were ‘many souls’ still dwelling there. ‘The priest told me, ‘Sir, I can’t handle this alone. I need two more priests to help pacify the souls here,” he said.

Several staff members, Catapang added, have also refused to stay overnight in the building after hearing footsteps or seeing ghostly figures while on duty. One staffer reportedly woke up to find ‘a ghost staring at him’ after switching off the lights.

While he shared the spine-chilling tales in a lighthearted tone, such accounts have long been part of the lore surrounding NBP, one of the country’s oldest and most overcrowded penitentiaries.

‘Over 40 individuals’ will be sued over the riots during the Sept. 21 anticorruption rallies, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) announced.

The violence erupted at the foot of Ayala Bridge and the Mendiola Peace Arch, killing one, injuring hundreds, and leading to the arrest of at least 216 people – 91 of whom were minors – prompting condemnation from human rights groups.

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said: ‘We are going to file cases already. We will file cases against more than 40 people, also stemming from the Sept. 21 incident. It will not stop.’

‘We are investigating the commission of a criminal act. It’s not the conduct of a peaceful rally. Everybody involved there will be investigated so that this unfortunate incident will not happen again.’

Morico did not detail whom they will file cases against and what cases they will file.

He stressed, ‘We are investigating all those involved, especially the high-profile people.’

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, citing intelligence reports, previously hinted that rioters ‘may have been paid’ and instigated by a Chinese-Filipino politician and lawyer.

Asked whether the CIDG was looking into Moreno’s claims, ‘When the mayor mentions people, any information the CIDG gets, we exploit and investigate it.’

While Morico and the CIDG again declined to name those it is investigating, at least six individuals have been identified on social media as respondents of its subpoenas:

Aldrin Kitsune-Film student, De La Salle University-College of Saint Benilde; officer, anticorruption group Kabataan Kontra Korapsyon

Park Alamada Pangawilan-Vlogger, also known as Kuya Par

Jacob Baluyot-Journalism student, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Sta Mesa; associate editor, PUP student publication The Catalyst

Joaquin Buenaflor-Political science student, University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman; chairperson, UP Diliman University Student Council

Tiffany Brillante-Political science student, PUP Sta. Mesa; president, PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral

Harry Angping-Former Manila 3rd District representative; former chairperson, Philippine Sports Commission

All six respondents have denied involvement in the riots.

Asphalt overlaying activities will be conducted along the eastbound lane of Quezon Avenue from November 1 to 30, every 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Friday.

MMDA, in a statement posted on its social media pages, said that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will do the asphalt overlaying over a portion of Quezon Avenue, specifically a few meters past Scout Chuatoco Avenue and Scout Santiago Street.

This means that the asphalt overlay would cross past the Timog Avenue intersection.

‘The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will undertake asphalt overlay activities along Quezon Avenue Eastbound (from fronting Geomachine Co., to corner Sct. Santiago St.) starting tomorrow, November 1, to November 30,’ MMDA said.

‘The activities will be done during nighttime only, from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. Motorists are advised to take alternate routes,’ it added.

Quezon Avenue is one of the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila that was subjected to road reblocking after streets were damaged due to successive typhoons during the southeast monsoon season.

According to the MMDA, 19 road sections in Quezon City, Caloocan, and Makati were reblocked from September 26 to 29

More than 59,000 passengers passed through the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) on Friday morning, October 31, a day before All Saints’ Day.

As of 8 a.m., PITX Senior Corporate Affairs Officer Kolyn Calbasa said the terminal recorded 59,243 passengers, including those arriving and departing from Metro Manila. Calbasa told the Inquirer that the terminal has sufficient trips to accommodate all passengers during this year’s Undas travel rush.

‘If there are ever challenges in supply, we have the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on site to issue special permits for additional buses,’ she said in Filipino.

From October 27 to 30, PITX recorded a total of 749,233 passengers-188,624 on October 27; 181,090 on October 28; 185,051 on October 29; and 194,468 on October 30. Daily traffic during this period was high compared to the usual 160,000 passengers on a regular day. Calbasa said most trips this Undas were bound for the Bicol Region, followed by Laguna-Batangas-Quezon, northern Luzon provinces, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, and the Visayas-Mindanao regions.

Around 2.1 million passengers are expected to pass through PITX from October 27 to November 3, Calbasa added.

As families hustle to clean tombs, arrange vibrant flowers, and prepare for solemn visits to their departed loved ones, a dedicated team from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Bicol (BFAR-5) gathered to pay homage to the marine mammals that have tragically met their end along the breathtaking shores of the region.

Rowena Briones, spokesperson for BFAR-Bicol, unveiled the existence of a unique cetacean cemetery-a solemn resting place established in 2013 by the Fisheries Regional Emergency Stranding Response Team (FIRST).

Located at the BFAR-5 regional office in Bula, Camarines Sur, the site stands as a heartfelt reflection of incidents of strandings and the untimely demise of marine creatures in the waters of Bicol.

‘At least 14 dolphins and whales, like Risso’s dolphin, spinner dolphin, Fraser’s dolphin, dwarf sperm whale, Bryde’s whale, melon-headed whale, and striped dolphin, are in the cemetery,’ she shared thoughtfully.

Briones highlighted the cemetery’s exceptional nature; such poignant places are extraordinarily rare, with significant examples only located in Bicol and Dagupan.

‘The Bicol Region is a celebrated sanctuary for marine mammals, its unique archipelagic layout acting as a crucial migratory route and a lush habitat for an extraordinary variety of cetaceans. This urgent situation underscores an even greater need for education and advocacy focused on conserving these magnificent beings,’ she said.

The cemetery has become a destination for a diverse array of visitors: environmentally aware individuals, enthusiastic students, and inquisitive media representatives.

‘Many visitors express a profound sense of wonder and joy at discovering such a place, which ignites a deeper fascination with marine life, particularly among the youth,’ she added.

Despite its serene purpose, the cemetery has faced challenges, especially in the aftermath of relentless typhoons that have battered the site. Rehabilitation efforts have emerged as vital to restoring the cemetery’s dignity and tranquility.

‘A dedicated team of skilled professionals from the Fisheries Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division (FMRED) tirelessly oversees the cemetery, ensuring it remains a space of reflection, learning, and connection,’ she said.

Beyond serving as a resting place, the cetacean cemetery serves as a powerful reminder of humanity’s shared duties toward the oceans.

‘Our ultimate goal is to elevate public awareness regarding the essential role cetaceans play in preserving the fragile equilibrium of our marine ecosystems. Many necropsies conducted on stranded marine mammals have shown that human activities are frequently the leading causes of their demise,’ she added.

While formal ceremonies may not be held, visitors often find solace in lighting candles, laying flowers, and whispering prayers, creating heartfelt tributes for the lives lost too soon.

Briones reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for the appreciation and protection of our marine mammals, noting how their presence serves as a vital indicator of a healthy, balanced oceanic ecosystem.

‘It is crucial to understand that whales and dolphins are endangered species; their capture, killing, possession, sale, purchase, trade, or importation is strictly forbidden under Section 102 of RA 10654, the Fisheries Code of the Philippines,’ she emphasized.

Briones urged the public to remain vigilant, stressing the importance of reporting any occurrences immediately by contacting the nearest BFAR office or local authorities.

‘Your awareness and action can significantly impact the preservation of these magnificent beings,’ she said

Five out of 10 Filipino families rate themselves as poor, according to the latest Social Weather Survey released Thursday.

The survey, conducted from September 24 to 30, found that 50 percent of respondents, or an estimated 14.2 million Filipino families, rate themselves as ‘mahirap’ or ‘poor,’ while 38 percent rate themselves as ‘hindi mahirap’ or ‘not poor.’ Meanwhile, 12 percent rated themselves as ‘borderline’ (on the line dividing ‘poor’ and ‘not poor’).

The September result for self-rated poor families was 1 point above the 49 percent in June (roughly 13.7 million families) and the same as the 50 percent in late April. On the other hand, the September result for ‘not poor’ was 3 points below the 41 percent in June, and the result for ‘borderline’ was 2 points up from 10 percent in June.

Self-rated poverty was at its highest in Mindanao at 69 percent (unchanged from June’s result), followed by the Visayas at 54 percent (down 6 points from 60% in June), Metro Manila at 43 percent (up 7 points from 36 percent), and Luzon outside Metro Manila at 42 percent (up 4 points from 38 percent).

Meanwhile, the rate for ‘not poor’ fell from 57 percent in June to 51 percent in Metro Manila, from 28 percent to 23 percent in the Visayas, and from 52 percent to 49 percent in Luzon outside Metro Manila. In Mindanao, the score barely moved from 21 percent to 20 percent.

The percentage of ‘borderline’ families rose sharply from 12 percent to 24 percent in the Visayas but hardly changed in other areas (from 8 percent to 7 percent in Metro Manila, 10 percent to 9 percent in Luzon outside Metro Manila, and 10 percent to 11 percent in Mindanao).

On the other hand, 41 percent of families rated themselves as ‘food-poor’ (unchanged since April 2025). While 47 percent rated themselves as ‘not food-poor’ (falling slightly from 49 percent in June), 11 percent rated themselves as ‘food borderline’ (barely moving from 10 percent).

Self-rated food poverty was again at its highest in Mindanao at 61 percent (hardly moved from 60 percent in June). It was followed by the Visayas at 40 percent (down 4 points from 44 percent), Metro Manila at 35 percent (up 4 points from 31 percent), and Luzon outside Metro Manila at 33 percent (hardly moved from 34 percent).

The survey used face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults and had sampling error margins of plus-or-minus 3 percent for national percentages, plus-or-minus 4 percent for Luzon outside Metro Manila, and plus-or-minus 6 percent each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

PLDT dominated the winless Nxled, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20, to finish Pool A strong in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Friday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Savi Davison once again led the High Speed Hitters’ offense with 19 points off 14 kills, three blocks, and two aces. She also anchored the floor defense with 10 digs and nine excellent receptions. Russian Anastasiia Bavykina had 10 points. Del Palomata added seven points, while Kath Arado had 10 digs to overcome Paola Martinez’s 29-point explosion for Nxled.

‘One of our main reminders going into this game was to learn from our last loss. We didn’t want to have another slow start. We knew Nxled wouldn’t make it easy, especially now that their import is really performing well. So our mindset was to stay patient and focus on how we could limit their import’s production,’ said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort in Filipino.

‘Thankfully, things fell into place. They still had the edge in attacks, but we were able to capitalize on their errors, and that helped us pull away toward the end.’ Arado said staying patient was key against the winless but gritty Chameleons, whose Spanish import was coming off a 38-point performance last week. ‘I can’t let myself get frustrated because not everything will go the way I read it. I’m not the only one on the court, so there’s no point stressing myself out when I make a mistake. We won’t win if I keep dwelling on my errors. We also can’t afford to lose patience with ourselves,’ she said.

PLDT tied Farm Fresh on top of Pool A with identical 4-1 records, facing the bottom Pool B teams, Galeries Tower, Chery Tiggo, and either Petro Gazz or Akari.

Martinez hammered 25 kills, two aces, and two blocks, while Chiara Permentilla had seven points and 11 receptions only to finish the first round with a 0-5 record.

Nxled battles unbeaten ZUS Coffee, Creamline, and either Akari or Petro Gazz in the second round, where it tries to enter the win column.

Authorities caught an allegedly illegal cigarette factory in Cavite early Friday morning, arresting two individuals and ‘rescuing’ 11 workers, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

The bust came through a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Angelina A. Mailom-Orendain of Regional Trial Court Branch 92 in Calamba City, Laguna, targeting the alleged factory operating out of a supposed leisure park in Trece Martires City, according to the PNP in a statement on Friday.

The warrant was issued for violation of Republic Act No. 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

‘The operation resulted in the arrest of two people, one is a native of Masbate City, while the other is from Pasay City. The modus of the arrested. is to recruit workers from poor communities in the Visayas and Mindanao to work in a factory of counterfeit cigarettes,’ the PNP explained. ‘Meanwhile, rescued were 11 male workers, including a 17-year-old teenage boy, who were reportedly recruited from Masbate and nearby provinces to work under questionable labor conditions. Investigation is ongoing to determine if there were also labor laws violated,’ it added.

The PNP did not provide further details about the arrested suspects and ‘rescued’ workers, only noting that they will be brought to the Trece Martires City Police Station for documentation.

‘The PNP will continue to work closely with government agencies and local authorities to dismantle trafficking networks and hold perpetrators accountable, in support of the government’s broader campaign for safe and dignified employment for all Filipinos,’ the agency stressed.

Magnolia held off Phoenix’s last-ditch comeback for an 83-80 victory to create a four-way tie for the lead in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Jerom Lastimosa had 14 points and seven assists while Paul Lee knocked down all of his three triples for nine points as the Hotshots improved to 4-1, equaling the win-loss marks of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, TNT Tropang 5G and NLEX Road Warriors. But coach LA Tenorio’s wards had to stave off the Fuel Masters in the dying seconds after RR Garcia’s four-pointer trimmed an 81-74 lead down to one, 81-80.

Lastimosa drained two foul shots after being clipped by Garcia on the next play, before Magnolia prevented Phoenix from going for a game-tying three as Tyler Tio settled for a medium-range jumper that he missed.

Rookie forward Chris Koon scored five points and dished out one assist in almost 21 minutes for the Hotshots in his debut since being traded from the Titan Ultra Giant Risers. Jason Perkins posted 19 points and five rebounds, but Phoenix dropped in a tie for last place with Titan Ultra and Terrafirma at 1-4.

Ricci Rivero scored just six points after a string of high-scoring games for Phoenix as he was bothered by a knee pain.