Manila, Philippines – Some 346 Filipino victims of human trafficking in Myanmar have been safely repatriated.
The Filipinos who arrived in the country yesterday, via chartered flights were rescued by authorities during a raid on a scam hub in Myanmar.
In collaboration with the Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the government has assured financial assistance to the Filipinos.
This also includes providing medical and psychosocial services, legal aid, and skills training.
According to authorities, most of the repatriates were recruited through social media and they were promised jobs abroad but were forced to work in online scam operations.
More than 1,000 Filipinos have been recruited and victimized by human trafficking, data recorded by DMW over the past two years.
Most of them were rescued from scam compounds in Southeast Asia.
Authorities continue to urge the public to immediately report suspected cases of trafficking to the nearest Philippine embassy or call the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
DMW insists, make sure to apply only through licensed and verified recruitment agencies and avoid online job offers that promise high salaries, but lack documents such as contracts, work permits or visas.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News