Twelve Filipino victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment in Myanmar have been successfully brought home through the efforts of the Philippine government. The repatriates arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City on February 19, 2025, via Cebu Pacific flight 57864, following a coordinated operation by the Philippine Embassy and Migrant Workers Office in Bangkok.
Upon arrival, the victims received immediate assistance, including psychosocial support, financial aid, and legal assistance from a government task force composed of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), and NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIA-TFAT).
According to authorities, the victims were lured through a Facebook job posting by a fellow Filipino, promising them customer service positions in Myanmar. However, upon arrival, they were forced to work as online scammers under inhumane conditions—deprived of wages and rest days. Those who resisted were physically assaulted with PVC pipes, subjected to electric shocks, and forced to perform intense physical punishments such as squatting and jumping for hours.
When they attempted to leave, their employer demanded $15,000 as an exit fee. Unable to pay, they escaped from the scam center and sought help from the Myanmar military. They were among 250 people released at the Thai border in Phop Phraas, as reported last week.
The DMW urges Filipinos seeking overseas jobs to exercise caution, especially with offers found on social media. Job seekers are advised to verify recruitment agencies and job postings through the official DMW website (https://dmw.gov.ph/). Suspicious recruitment activities can be reported to the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau via their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip), email (mwpb@dmw.gov.ph), or hotline (+63 2 8721-0619).
