Taiwanese, Malaysian held for detaining 3 Philippine workers

MANILA, Philippines — Two foreign nationals have been arrested after allegedly illegally detaining three Filipino workers at a condominium in Malate, Manila where the three were made to memorize scripts for a suspected love scam and offshore gaming operations.

The police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) identified the suspects as a 32-year-old Taiwanese, alias Pen, and a 38-year-old Malaysian known as Lee.

The three victims, two women and a man from Samar, Dumaguete and Pasay, were rescued during a joint CIDG and Manila Police District operation on Oct. 28.

Investigators said the victims had been detained in the condominium since Oct. 23, with their mobile phones confiscated.

They were allegedly recruited as virtual assistants with promised monthly salaries of up to $500, plus a $100 perfect-attendance incentive.

Instead, they were allegedly made to work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., memorizing scripts for love scams.

Authorities said the victims were rescued before they could be transported to Bohol.

The suspects are facing complaints for violations of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, serious illegal detention and grave coercion.