65 trafficking victims rescued from illegal Pampanga cigarette factory

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

ILLEGAL FACTORY. Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla (center) leads a press briefing at a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga that allegedly housed an illegal cigarette factory on Thursday (Feb. 5, 2026). The warehouse was raided by authorities on Jan. 28, resulting in the arrest of six Chinese nationals who are believed to be the factory’s operators, and rescue of 65 Filipino workers. (Photo: PNA/Facebook)

MEXICO, Pampanga – Authorities arrested six Chinese nationals and rescued 65 Filipino workers during a raid on an illicit cigarette factory here last week.

Speaking at a press briefing following a visit to the raided warehouse on Thursday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the operation, conducted on Jan. 28, also resulted in the confiscation of PHP400 million worth of illegal cigarettes.

“Rescued po sila, sila ‘yung victims ng human trafficking (They were rescued, they are victims of human trafficking),” Remulla said, adding that the Filipinos were forced to work in “inhumane” conditions.

Remulla said the Filipinos, 54 men and 11 women, were recruited with the promise of a PHP15,000 monthly salary but were never paid by the operators.

“Ang tawag doon (That’s called) involuntary servitude,” he said, noting that the victims lived in small barracks that has no windows and electric fan and with only a single light bulb to provide illumination.

Remulla said the rescued Filipino workers are now receiving proper assistance from the government.

Also seized during the operation were three cigarette manufacturing machines and two cigarette packing machines capable of producing an estimated PHP150 million worth of cigarettes per day or PHP4.5 billion worth per month.

The illegal operation, Remulla said, started just last month. He identified the lessor of the factory’s lot as Samyoung Global Corporation, whose incorporators are three Filipinos and two Koreans.

“We are looking deeper into the entire structure ng kumpanyang ito (of this company),” he said.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said they already subpoenaed one of the Filipino incorporators as part of the investigation.

The six Chinese nationals face charges for violating Republic Act 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. They underwent inquest proceedings on Jan. 30, with a preliminary investigation set for Feb. 9.