Ambassador Agus story behind the effects of the Indonesian embassy handles TPPO Judol victims in the Philippines

Jakarta – The Indonesian embassy (KBRI) in Manila, the Philippines, handled the Indonesian citizen (WNI) who were victims of fraud and criminal acts of human trafficking (TPPO) related to online gambling (judol). The Indonesian embassy applied the function of protection in the handling of Indonesian citizens to be repatriated to Indonesia. “The handling of protection, the term Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not protection. The function of this protection is therefore comprehensive, whether it is about safety issues, whether it is legal issues, whether it is related to gender equality,” the Indonesian ambassador said in the Philippines, Agus Widjojo, the Philippines, Tuesday (6/17/2025). Agus said the function of the protection of Indonesian citizens has existed since former Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. This function is regulated in PermenLu number 25 of 2018 on the protection of Indonesian citizens abroad. Browse to continue with the contents of the Indonesian embassy in Manila Philippines Photo: Lyde/Detikcom the function of protecting this Indonesian citizen, says Agus, is one of the priority programs, except to search for economic investment abroad. “The function of the Indonesian embassy included … and it is a priority for the foreign minister, who is prioritized, is the protection of Indonesian citizens. Except that he is also looking for economic investment and other functions,” he said. “But by Foreign Minister Bu Retno, it was used as a priority because it was a bridge between diplomatic relations, bilateral relations with domestic needs,” he added. For information, many Indonesian citizens are the victim of TPPO related to online gambling in the Philippines. The victim was allegedly cheated and then recruited as an online gambling operator. This is where the Indonesian embassy in handling by applying the protection function. “The conditions in the country and the interests of the household community, namely those who become victims are usually deceived, from Indonesia, then they arrived here to get different treatment than promised. So it was a bridge between international and domestic problems,” he said. Agus added that the function of the protection of Indonesian citizens could not be avoided. Furthermore, he said, many Indonesian citizens were victims of TPPO online gambling operators. “Because we can’t avoid the function after all priorities or not priorities. In addition, countries like Southeast Asia. Try to see that in the end … Well, it also made it aware of the Philippine government, how many online gambling cases were damaged, and eventually the decision was made by Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s decision,” he explained. “With the ban in the Philippines, they are now moving to Cambodia, to Myanmar, and the victims are still a lot of Indonesia,” he concluded. So far, there are 26 Indonesian citizens who are at the presidential detention home against the anti-organized crime commission. They were victims of TPPO online gambling who waited for permission to return to Indonesia. (Lir/KNV) HOEGENG Awards 2025 Read the inspiring story of the exemplary police candidate here