MANILA, Philipppines– Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has condemned the rise of Filipino-run love scam operations, emphasizing the damage they cause to the Philippines’ reputation internationally.
The chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means voiced his concerns following reports from Australian authorities, revealing that around 5,000 Australians had fallen victim to scams originating from Filipino centers. These scams have led to financial losses of AU$24 million.
Gatchalian pointed out that these fraudulent activities not only harm the image of Filipinos but also negatively affect Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), who are typically seen as reliable and trustworthy.
He urged immediate action from the Philippine government to address the issue and announced plans to introduce a resolution calling for a thorough investigation and preventive measures.
He also encouraged local law enforcement to collaborate with international counterparts to combat these scams.
The senator further called for local government units and law enforcement agencies to strengthen their efforts against love scams and suggested launching comprehensive awareness and education campaigns to prevent future victimization.
Gatchalian stressed the importance of safeguarding the nation’s integrity and protecting vulnerable individuals from falling prey to these fraudulent schemes.
