Secretary of the National Central Bureau (NCB) Interpol Indonesia Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko told the press here on Sunday that those Indonesian citizens departed from the Philippines to Indonesia on Saturday.
"They were arrested by the Philippine security authorities for having allegedly committed crimes related to online gambling and online scam activities which are illegal and prohibited by the Government of the Philippines," he said.
According to him, the 29 Indonesians worked in an online gambling and scam company at Kanlaon Tower, Pasay City, Metro Manila.
Upon their arrival, they filled out a questionnaire provided by the NCB Interpol Indonesia.
The questionnaire will be analyzed by Polri's International Relations Division. Apart from that, the division will also further investigate the individuals, he added.
"We will investigate these 29 people and separate those who are alleged victims and perpetrators," he remarked.
Earlier, the International Relations Division of Polri assisted the repatriation of 569 Indonesian migrant workers who became victims of human trafficking in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
Widyatmoko noted that the repatriation was carried out in two phases --- 400 people in the first phase and 169 people in the second phase.
Those Indonesians were forced to work in scamming activities, which, according to him, are in the form of investment scams and romance scams.
The Presidential Communication Office (PCO) informed that as of February 2025, at least 6,800 Indonesian citizens are suspected of having fallen victim to human trafficking abroad.
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Translator: Nadia Putri, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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