Eduardo Jose de Vega, the Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, has issued a warning to Filipinos and foreign workers in Southeast Asia about the dangers of illegal recruitment and trafficking. De Vega urged workers to avoid internet-based offers that could lead them into illegal jobs, including roles in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and surrogacy work.
De Vega highlighted in a PhilStar report ongoing efforts by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to combat human trafficking. He pointed out that many workers, including citizens of ASEAN countries, are lured to the Philippines under false pretenses, only to be trafficked to other countries.
In one instance, the DFA had to repatriate hundreds of women from Myanmar who had been recruited for scamming operations. Another case involved 20 women trafficked to Cambodia for surrogacy.
De Vega stressed the importance of going through proper recruitment channels, warning against believing too-good-to-be-true online offers. “Jobs should go through the DMW with proper agencies to ensure legitimacy,” he said.
The DFA continues to work with local and regional partners to address these illegal schemes and protect workers from falling victim to human trafficking networks.
