29 Indonesians sent home from Philippines over scam allegations
Indonesian police have brought back 29 citizens who were deported from the Philippines for their alleged involvement in online scams and illegal gambling.
The 29 Indonesians were accused of working with a criminal network based in Kanlaon Tower in Pasay City, Manila.
Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko, secretary of the Indonesian National Central Bureau (NCB) Interpol, said the group was arrested by Philippine authorities for crimes linked to online gambling and fraud.
The Indonesian Embassy in Manila worked with police to bring the group home shortly before midnight on Saturday.
Indonesian authorities will now investigate the deportees to determine who was a victim and who was involved in the crimes.
The incident comes weeks after Indonesia brought back hundreds of citizens who were forced to work for online scam networks in Myanmar. Many had been lured with promises of high-paying jobs in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries but were trapped in conditions like digital slavery.
Between 2020 and 2023, more than 4,700 Indonesians were rescued from cybercrime groups in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, according to Indonesian government data.
A total of 554 people, including 449 men and 105 women, were recently brought back from Myanmar after joint operations involving Chinese, Thai, and local militias.
