Three Filipina women who were trafficked and forced into sex work in Malaysia have safely returned to the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed on Sunday.
The women, aged between 30 and 32, were recruited via social media with promises of legitimate jobs as waitresses abroad, offering monthly pay between P40,000 to P60,000. But instead of the promised employment, they ended up working as guest relations officers in bars under exploitative conditions.
“They were deceived with false job offers, smuggled through illegal maritime routes, and subjected to abuse,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.
Two of the victims left the country through the so-called “backdoor route” in November and were detained in Malaysia for five months due to lack of proper documentation. The third victim had been trafficked as early as 2021 and endured repeated exploitation.
The three women were recently repatriated and arrived at the Port of Zamboanga last month.
Authorities are urging job seekers to exercise caution when offered work abroad, especially via social media. “Always verify offers and go through legal, accredited recruitment channels,” the BI emphasized.
The case adds to a growing number of trafficking incidents involving Filipinos abroad. Over 200 have recently been repatriated from Myanmar, where many were forced into scam hubs and subjected to abuse. The bureau also flagged similar cases in Cambodia.
According to a U.S. State Department report, human trafficking investigations in the Philippines rose to 417 cases in 2024, up from 277 in 2023.
