Duterte cuts short official visit to Russia, flies back to PH | ABS-CBN
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Duterte cuts short official visit to Russia, flies back to PH
Duterte cuts short official visit to Russia, flies back to PH
ABS-CBN News
Published May 24, 2017 10:37 AM PHT
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MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has cut short his official visit to Russia amid the ongoing firefight between government troops and a local terrorist group in Marawi City in Mindanao.
MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has cut short his official visit to Russia amid the ongoing firefight between government troops and a local terrorist group in Marawi City in Mindanao.
Duterte left Russia at 6:36 a.m. Wednesday (Manila time) onboard flight PR-001. He is expected to arrive in Manila at about 4:30 p.m. of the same day.
Duterte left Russia at 6:36 a.m. Wednesday (Manila time) onboard flight PR-001. He is expected to arrive in Manila at about 4:30 p.m. of the same day.
Before leaving for Manila, he was able to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday evening.
Before leaving for Manila, he was able to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday evening.
The two leaders were able to discuss the situation in Mindanao and why the Philippine president had to go home.
The two leaders were able to discuss the situation in Mindanao and why the Philippine president had to go home.
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PANOORIN: Russian Pres Putin nakipagkita kay Pres Duterte bago ang pag-uwi sa Manila dahil sa #MarawiClash (RTVM video)@DZMMTeleRadyo pic.twitter.com/NrTbEMkvyZ
— Dexter Joie Ganibe (@dzmmRP45) May 23, 2017
PANOORIN: Russian Pres Putin nakipagkita kay Pres Duterte bago ang pag-uwi sa Manila dahil sa #MarawiClash (RTVM video)@DZMMTeleRadyo pic.twitter.com/NrTbEMkvyZ
— Dexter Joie Ganibe (@dzmmRP45) May 23, 2017
Duterte arrived in Russia last Monday for a supposedly week-long official visit. But he had to cut his trip short after the Maute group attacked parts of Marawi.
Duterte arrived in Russia last Monday for a supposedly week-long official visit. But he had to cut his trip short after the Maute group attacked parts of Marawi.
The Philippine President, in response, declared martial law in Mindanao as government troops continue to hunt down members of the Maute group in Marawi.
The Philippine President, in response, declared martial law in Mindanao as government troops continue to hunt down members of the Maute group in Marawi.
Duterte said martial law in Mindanao will be no different from the martial law period during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos, saying he will deal harshly with terrorists.
Duterte said martial law in Mindanao will be no different from the martial law period during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos, saying he will deal harshly with terrorists.
"Mga kababayan, do not be too scared. I am going home. I am cutting my visit here to be with my countrymen and I will deal with the problem once I arrive," he said in a Facebook Live interview with Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson.
"Mga kababayan, do not be too scared. I am going home. I am cutting my visit here to be with my countrymen and I will deal with the problem once I arrive," he said in a Facebook Live interview with Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson.
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Filipina victim reveals beatings, abuse in Myanmar scam center
Filipina victim reveals beatings, abuse in Myanmar scam center
Agence France-Presse,
Sally Jensen
Published Feb 14, 2025 06:25 PM PHT
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Updated Feb 14, 2025 06:26 PM PHT
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An alleged victim of a scam center shows an injury on their arm as they wait to cross the border to Thailand to be repatriated, in Kyauk Khet in Myawaddy in Myanmar's Kayin State on February 12, 2025. AFP photo
![An alleged victim of a scam center shows an injury on their arm as they wait to cross the border to Thailand to be repatriated, in Kyauk Khet in Myawaddy in Myanmar's Kayin State on February 12, 2025. AFP photo](https://od2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com/api/upload-raw/20250214100224/77be36e4b079003b27bd0d7fe81972460d2402e070e00850241b505f6deb1bdd.jpg)
At a scam compound in Myanmar, Filipina worker Pieta had just days to romance strangers online and trick them into investing in a fake business -- failing which she would be beaten or tortured with electric shocks.
At a scam compound in Myanmar, Filipina worker Pieta had just days to romance strangers online and trick them into investing in a fake business -- failing which she would be beaten or tortured with electric shocks.
Pieta was one of 260 people -- many visibly injured or bruised -- rescued from an illicit center along the Myanmar border this week and handed over to Thailand, following a series of crackdowns on the illegal operations.
Pieta was one of 260 people -- many visibly injured or bruised -- rescued from an illicit center along the Myanmar border this week and handed over to Thailand, following a series of crackdowns on the illegal operations.
Scam compounds have mushroomed in Myanmar's borderlands and are staffed by foreigners, sometimes trafficked and forced to work, swindling people around the world in an industry analysts say is worth billions of dollars.
Scam compounds have mushroomed in Myanmar's borderlands and are staffed by foreigners, sometimes trafficked and forced to work, swindling people around the world in an industry analysts say is worth billions of dollars.
Pieta, a pseudonym to protect her identity, thought she was accepting a job in Thailand that paid $1,500 a month when she left the Philippines six months ago.
Pieta, a pseudonym to protect her identity, thought she was accepting a job in Thailand that paid $1,500 a month when she left the Philippines six months ago.
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Instead, she was forced to work grueling shifts for no pay at the compound in Kyauk Khet, a village in Myanmar's Karen state, scamming people in Europe and living in constant fear of punishment.
Instead, she was forced to work grueling shifts for no pay at the compound in Kyauk Khet, a village in Myanmar's Karen state, scamming people in Europe and living in constant fear of punishment.
"If we didn't reach the target, we were beaten up... (or given) electric shocks," she told AFP from a holding centre in Phop Phra, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of Thailand's Mae Sot after the rescuees were taken by boat across a small border river on Wednesday.
"If we didn't reach the target, we were beaten up... (or given) electric shocks," she told AFP from a holding centre in Phop Phra, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of Thailand's Mae Sot after the rescuees were taken by boat across a small border river on Wednesday.
"I'm just going to cry. Oh my God. I'm so happy... that I left that place," she said, adding that enforced squats -- sometimes up to 1,000 -- were also meted out as punishment.
"I'm just going to cry. Oh my God. I'm so happy... that I left that place," she said, adding that enforced squats -- sometimes up to 1,000 -- were also meted out as punishment.
The 260 foreign nationals -- among thousands allegedly lured into the notorious cyberscam centres with promises of high-paying jobs before they are effectively held hostage -- came from over a dozen countries including Ethiopia, Brazil and Nepal.
The 260 foreign nationals -- among thousands allegedly lured into the notorious cyberscam centres with promises of high-paying jobs before they are effectively held hostage -- came from over a dozen countries including Ethiopia, Brazil and Nepal.
- Signs of physical abuse -
AFP spoke to some of them under the condition of anonymity. Many bore signs of physical abuse, including one woman who had huge bruises on her left arm and thigh and said she had been electrocuted.
AFP spoke to some of them under the condition of anonymity. Many bore signs of physical abuse, including one woman who had huge bruises on her left arm and thigh and said she had been electrocuted.
Liu, one of 10 Chinese nationals rescued, described gory methods his Chinese bosses inflicted as punishment.
Liu, one of 10 Chinese nationals rescued, described gory methods his Chinese bosses inflicted as punishment.
He told AFP that he saw one worker having his face rubbed into a metal grate on the floor until he bled to death -- a claim AFP is unable to verify.
He told AFP that he saw one worker having his face rubbed into a metal grate on the floor until he bled to death -- a claim AFP is unable to verify.
"So many were beaten to death, it was so bloody," he said.
"So many were beaten to death, it was so bloody," he said.
Scam centres have proliferated across Southeast Asia in recent years, including the Philippines, where police this week rescued 34 Indonesians from a Manila compound.
Scam centres have proliferated across Southeast Asia in recent years, including the Philippines, where police this week rescued 34 Indonesians from a Manila compound.
Chinese supervisors there had allegedly stripped them of their passports and said they would be moved to a new site in Cambodia against their will.
Chinese supervisors there had allegedly stripped them of their passports and said they would be moved to a new site in Cambodia against their will.
Gilberto Cruz, of the Philippines' anti-organized crime commission, told AFP Friday that about 21,000 Chinese nationals who had worked for now-banned offshore gaming centers continued to operate smaller-scale scam operations in the country.
Gilberto Cruz, of the Philippines' anti-organized crime commission, told AFP Friday that about 21,000 Chinese nationals who had worked for now-banned offshore gaming centers continued to operate smaller-scale scam operations in the country.
Thai officials said the Kyauk Khet center is also run by Chinese nationals and first appeared on the other side of the Moei River in 2019, although it is still under construction.
Thai officials said the Kyauk Khet center is also run by Chinese nationals and first appeared on the other side of the Moei River in 2019, although it is still under construction.
None of the returnees -- exhausted and overwhelmed -- told how they travelled, or were trafficked into the compound.
None of the returnees -- exhausted and overwhelmed -- told how they travelled, or were trafficked into the compound.
Other victims in the past have said that after arriving in Thailand, they were whisked across the border and forced to commit online fraud.
Other victims in the past have said that after arriving in Thailand, they were whisked across the border and forced to commit online fraud.
But Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, a senior police official, told local news outlet The Standard on Friday that in many instances, victims come to work in the centres voluntarily.
But Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, a senior police official, told local news outlet The Standard on Friday that in many instances, victims come to work in the centres voluntarily.
- Escape attempt -
"The majority are aware of what to expect, although some are deceived while still in their countries of origin," he said.
"The majority are aware of what to expect, although some are deceived while still in their countries of origin," he said.
For those who come out of choice, it is unlikely they fully understand the horror awaiting them.
For those who come out of choice, it is unlikely they fully understand the horror awaiting them.
Kokeb from Ethiopia said he and his fellow were workers were forced to toil for 17 to 18 hours a day, and many had their phones confiscated to prevent escape.
Kokeb from Ethiopia said he and his fellow were workers were forced to toil for 17 to 18 hours a day, and many had their phones confiscated to prevent escape.
Still, two other Kenyans -- who said they had been forced to defraud internet users in "rich countries" such as the United States -- staged an escape with several others days before the handover, and were caught by a local militia.
Still, two other Kenyans -- who said they had been forced to defraud internet users in "rich countries" such as the United States -- staged an escape with several others days before the handover, and were caught by a local militia.
The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) which controls the Kyauk Khet area -- where the compound is located -- claimed responsibility for extracting the workers.
The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) which controls the Kyauk Khet area -- where the compound is located -- claimed responsibility for extracting the workers.
General Saw Shwe Wah, DKBA's second commander-in-chief said on Wednesday he was "relieved to have safely handed them over" to Thai authorities.
General Saw Shwe Wah, DKBA's second commander-in-chief said on Wednesday he was "relieved to have safely handed them over" to Thai authorities.
They and another Myanmar military group have said they will be releasing thousands more scam centre workers into Thailand in the coming weeks.
They and another Myanmar military group have said they will be releasing thousands more scam centre workers into Thailand in the coming weeks.
The returnees told how thousands were still being held in Kyauk Khet, but they are overjoyed to finally be returning home.
The returnees told how thousands were still being held in Kyauk Khet, but they are overjoyed to finally be returning home.
Liu left behind his wife in his hometown in Yunnan province when she was pregnant with his second child.
Liu left behind his wife in his hometown in Yunnan province when she was pregnant with his second child.
"I can't wait to see my children," he said.
"I can't wait to see my children," he said.
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