A total of 375 Filipinos who fell victim to human trafficking were brought home during the first half of 2025, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) reported.
According to IACAT Executive Director Hannah Lizette Manalili of the Department of Justice, the majority of the repatriated individuals were forced into labor, primarily in scam operations based in Myanmar, Cambodia, Lebanon, and Malaysia.
“These victims were mostly lured by illegal recruiters promising high-paying jobs abroad,” Manalili said, noting that many came from low-income families — making them especially vulnerable to deception and exploitation.
The number of trafficking victims continues to climb each year. In 2024, IACAT recorded 387 repatriations, a slight increase from 335 in 2023.
Manalili emphasized the urgency of strengthening awareness and prevention efforts as human traffickers evolve their tactics to target the most desperate and unsuspecting.
