The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Phnom Penh wishes to inform the Filipino community in Cambodia that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Manila has issued an Advisory pertaining to the continuing practice of undocumented Filipinos who work in the ASEAN Member States of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia using the "Visa Run" mode.

The term Visa Run refers to the process or facility by which foreign visitors continue to stay in a country by exiting through border control before the allowed period of their temporary stay expires and then return for a renewed period, depending on the type of visa issued and the discretion of the immigration officer.

As visa runs are considered as one of the facilities being used by human trafficking and drug syndicates, all Filipinos in Cambodia, particularly those who are on tourist visa status, are hereby strongly advised against using this mode of entry/exit in order to avoid possible risks to their welfare and safety. The POEA reiterates that prospective applicants seeking employment in ASEAN countries should undergo the regular POEA recruitment processes.

The Embassy likewise informs all Filipinos in Cambodia that there is a on-going crackdown by Cambodian immigration police authorities on illegal/overstaying aliens. The stricter implementation of immigration laws by Cambodian authorities has resulted to the arrest of a number of Filipinos who have overstayed their legal status in the country. This is also being implemented by the Governments of Thailand and Laos. Therefore, the Embassy encourages all Filipinos to ensure that they have valid visas and work permits, at all times, during their stay in Cambodia.

Finally, the Embassy reminds all our kababayans that our stay in Cambodia is not a right but just a privilege granted by its authorities. It is our duty to faithfully abide by the existing immigration laws and regulations of the Government of Cambodia.

19 August 2016, Phnom Penh