Filipina Jailed for Role in Cambodia Scam Targeting Singapore

A Filipino woman has been sentenced to 25 months in prison for her role in a scam syndicate that targeted victims in Singapore. The 35-year-old, De Villar Rizalyn Panganiban, was found guilty of conspiracy to cheat and being part of the syndicate. The court determined she was not coerced and had significant freedom of movement in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Panganiban had claimed she was offered an overseas job with a US$1,500 salary and traveled to Cambodia in late March 2025. Upon arrival, her passport was confiscated, and she was taken to a call center where she was given scripts to follow. Her defense team argued she was unaware of Singapore's location, even suggesting she believed it was in China and had never left the Philippines before.

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While there were some limits on what she could do in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, she had a substantial amount of freedom and could have left the group's premises or obtained help

However, Principal District Judge Thian Yee Sze found sufficient evidence to prove Panganiban's knowledge of Singapore as a target location. Prosecutors presented evidence, including references to Singaporean addresses, currency, and institutions like the Monetary Authority of Singapore, as well as instructions for her to adopt a Singaporean English accent. The judge stated that Panganiban needed only to know Singapore was a specific locality where criminal activity was intended, regardless of her precise geographical understanding.

The defense also contested Panganiban's membership in the syndicate, arguing she hadn't passed a test or recruited others. However, the prosecution countered that she had undergone training and received some payment. The judge accepted the evidence of her membership, noting that despite not having her passport, she had her phone and could have sought help or attempted to leave the premises.

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Even if her mental map was hazy or if she was ignorant of where Singapore was, the judge said the evidence showed that De Villar knew Singapore was a specific location where criminal activity was occurring or intended to occur.