DMW OIC to fly to Saudi to accelerate payment of OFWs' salaries By HANA BORDEY, GMA Integrated News

An overseas Filipina worker was reportedly forced to work as a scammer in Thailand and was allegedly physically abused by her Chinese employer. According to GMA Integrated News’ JP Soriano’s report on Unang Balita on Wednesday, alias “Rhea” was working as an online casino agent together with her partner in Thailand. According to the OFW’s sister, Rhea was earning well in Thailand even if she is staying there using a tourist visa. But the alleged physical abuse started when the OFW was transferred to a different place in Thailand where her Chinese employer locked her up in a building and forced her to dupe money through scamming. Rhea was allegedly asked to either continue her work as a scammer or pay her Chinese employer money. The Chinese employer reportedly asked Rhea to pay him P100,000 to P1 million before she would be allowed to leave. GMA Integrated News raised Rhea’s case with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said they already forwarded Rhea’s case to the Philippine Embassy in Thailand. “This is the first time that we’re handling cases in Thailand itself, because usually, Thailand is just a hub. Darating sa Thailand, tapos ililipat sa ibang lugar (The OFWs will arrive in Thailand then they are brought to a different place),” De Vega said. The DFA has so far rescued hundreds of Filipinos who were recruited to work as scammers in several Southeast Asian countries. —Hana Bordey/KG, GMA Integrated News

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