PH, Cambodia boost pact vs human trafficking, cyber scams

The Philippines and Cambodia have agreed to enhance cooperation in combating transnational crimes like human trafficking and online scam farms, which have affected many Filipinos.

The two nations amended their 2016 memorandum of understanding to address non-traditional security concerns, expanding areas of cooperation on human trafficking, cybercrimes, and other forms of online fraud.

Traffickers have exploited Filipinos and other nationals in forced labor within rapidly expanding online scam operations in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar over the past three years.

An undetermined number of Filipinos remain trapped in various scam farms across Southeast Asia, though the Department of Foreign Affairs assured that government efforts to rescue them are ongoing.

The enhanced cooperation was agreed upon during a ceremonial exchange of notes in Phnom Penh between Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, on the sidelines of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s state visit.

President Marcos expressed serious concerns that transnational threats such as human trafficking, cybercrime, and illicit drugs affect citizen safety and societal stability.