Cop arrested in Bulacan for alleged recruitment scam

Authorities arrest a police officer in Bocaue, Bulacan on Monday, June 16, 2025, for an alleged recruitment scam victimizing individuals seeking overseas employment. (Photo from the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group)

MANILA, Philippines — A police corporal was arrested in Bulacan for an alleged recruitment scam victimizing individuals seeking overseas employment, the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) said.

In a statement released on Tuesday, IMEG said the officer was arrested on June 16 in Bocaue.

According to the police, the suspect and his accomplices posed as recruiters of an international placement agency.

“[Two victims] were promised high-paying domestic jobs abroad and charged over P100,000.00 each in placement fees, including expenses for working visas and airfare,” the IMEG explained.

“However, the victims were never deployed overseas. Instead, they were forced to work in a massage parlor in Pasay City, where they were threatened and coerced into providing sexual services under duress,” it added.

READ: DMW: 70,000 fake online job offers thwarted 

The arrest stemmed from a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 112 in Pasay City for violations of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers and nOverseas Filipinos Act, IMEG noted.

Police did not provide further details as to the victims, the number and status of the suspect’s accomplices, nor how long they had been engaged in the illegal activity./gsg