Narrator/Denise Chan

Workers could come and file a complaint if they were treated unfairly and wanted to leave. The trick was, one, you had to know there was a complaint desk.

Workers could come and file a complaint if they were treated unfairly and wanted to leave. The trick was, one, you had to know there was a complaint desk.

All Colonel could tell Jello was that the complaint desk for her compound was by a bamboo hut called a kabo. He advised Jello's group to find this kabo, go to the complaint desk, and lodge a complaint against their company. Then, they'd have to face their bosses and negotiate. And hopefully, in the end, the bosses would agree to let them out and give them back their passports.

All Colonel could tell Jello was that the complaint desk for her compound was by a bamboo hut called a kabo. He advised Jello's group to find this kabo, go to the complaint desk, and lodge a complaint against their company. Then, they'd have to face their bosses and negotiate. And hopefully, in the end, the bosses would agree to let them out and give them back their passports.

There were no guarantees that they'd be let out. And if their bosses found out they were trying to escape, they might try to hurt them. But Jella didn't waver. They told Colonel they would work one last shift and leave the next day. And then, shit hit the fan. Toward the end of their shift, the translator who helped the Chinese bosses deliver orders to their Filipino workers dropped a bomb.

There were no guarantees that they'd be let out. And if their bosses found out they were trying to escape, they might try to hurt them. But Jella didn't waver. They told Colonel they would work one last shift and leave the next day. And then, shit hit the fan. Toward the end of their shift, the translator who helped the Chinese bosses deliver orders to their Filipino workers dropped a bomb.

Not good. They had to act fast. If the translator told the boss before they found the complaint desk, it would be over for them. So they decided to leave immediately. As soon as their shift ended, Jella rushed back to the dorm. It was one in the morning and she was in full panic mode. She threw all of her most important items into a black plastic garbage bag as fast as she could.

Not good. They had to act fast. If the translator told the boss before they found the complaint desk, it would be over for them. So they decided to leave immediately. As soon as their shift ended, Jella rushed back to the dorm. It was one in the morning and she was in full panic mode. She threw all of her most important items into a black plastic garbage bag as fast as she could.

Jella stuffed the only cash she had in her bra and socks and typed a quick message to her sister. Colonel had told Jella that the group could have their phones confiscated by their bosses, who would in turn contact her family members to extort them for more money. Jella warned her sister not to pick up if she saw her calling after this message.

Jella stuffed the only cash she had in her bra and socks and typed a quick message to her sister. Colonel had told Jella that the group could have their phones confiscated by their bosses, who would in turn contact her family members to extort them for more money. Jella warned her sister not to pick up if she saw her calling after this message.

She imagined herself being brutally beaten by a golf club, shocked with an electric baton. But she didn't share that with her sister. She sent one last text back, told her sister she was leaving now and turning off her phone.

She imagined herself being brutally beaten by a golf club, shocked with an electric baton. But she didn't share that with her sister. She sent one last text back, told her sister she was leaving now and turning off her phone.

Jella put her phone in her trash bag and then she walked out with her roommate. It was quiet outside of her dorm. Jela and her coworkers tried to play it cool. Jela pointed to the plastic bag in her hand and told the compound guard they were just throwing out some trash. Instead of stopping in front of the trash area, Jela and her companions kept walking.

Jella put her phone in her trash bag and then she walked out with her roommate. It was quiet outside of her dorm. Jela and her coworkers tried to play it cool. Jela pointed to the plastic bag in her hand and told the compound guard they were just throwing out some trash. Instead of stopping in front of the trash area, Jela and her companions kept walking.

They were leaving their dorms in small groups to draw less attention. They met up in front of the store. They still didn't know where the complaint desk was. But they decided to start walking in the direction of the entrance. The mood was tense.

They were leaving their dorms in small groups to draw less attention. They met up in front of the store. They still didn't know where the complaint desk was. But they decided to start walking in the direction of the entrance. The mood was tense.

The group of 10 approached the gate. Immediately, guards stopped them.

The group of 10 approached the gate. Immediately, guards stopped them.

The guards insisted that they needed to know which compound they were from. One of the group quickly texted Colonel to ask for help. He told them it was okay to share the information, but he warned them.

The guards insisted that they needed to know which compound they were from. One of the group quickly texted Colonel to ask for help. He told them it was okay to share the information, but he warned them.