206 Filipinos Rescued from Myanmar Scam Farms to Arrive in Manila

A total of 206 Filipinos who were rescued from scam farms and rebel groups in Myanmar are set to return to Manila this week, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The repatriation comes after months of harrowing experiences, including forced labor and abduction by armed groups.

The DFA announced on Sunday that the first batch of 30 Filipinos will arrive on Monday, followed by 176 on Tuesday. These individuals were among thousands of foreign workers trapped in Myanmar, forced to work in scam factories that have since been shut down due to power cuts.

Forced Labor and Abduction

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega revealed that the Filipinos were part of a larger group of foreign workers coerced into working in illegal scam operations. “Kasama ito sa iba-ibang lahi. Marami sila, libo-libo sila na nandoon. Napilitan magsara yung mga scam factories dahil (na cut) yung kanilang mga kuryente,” de Vega said.

The situation worsened when rebel groups abducted these workers. “Kinidnap sila ng mga rebel groups kasi ang mga teritoryo nuon hindi hawak ng Myanmar military government, hawak ng mga armed groups so sila ngayon ang mga kumukupkop sa mga ito bago i-turn over sa Myanmar,” de Vega explained.

Repatriation Process

The repatriation process involves coordination between the DFA and Myanmar authorities. A DFA team will meet the rescued Filipinos at a river crossing point near the Thai border. From there, they will be transported to Bangkok, where they will board flights back to the Philippines.

Upon their return, the Filipinos will receive assistance from various government agencies, including the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). “Kukunin ang salaysay nila para tignan kung paano mahihinto ang illegal recruitment,” de Vega said.

Ongoing Challenges

Despite these efforts, de Vega warned that many Filipinos continue to be lured by promises of high-paying jobs in Myanmar, despite the ongoing civil war. Recruitment often happens online, with many victims coming from overseas locations like Dubai. They are promised jobs as customer service representatives in Bangkok but are instead transported to Myanmar.

“Kung may pangakong trabaho sa Thailand, huwag puntahan kung hindi ito dadaan sa proseso. Kailangan ng work visa– daan ng proseso,” de Vega emphasized.

Broader Implications

The issue extends beyond Myanmar, with Filipinos also working in scam farms in Laos and Cambodia. De Vega noted that the investors behind these operations might relocate to Africa, potentially leading to more Filipinos being trafficked to countries like Nigeria.

The IACAT is working to uncover how these scams operate and whether some of the returning Filipinos were involved in recruiting others.

A Call for Vigilance

De Vega urged Filipinos to be cautious of job offers abroad, especially those that seem too good to be true. “Yung iba, gusto pumunta kasi kumikita sila. Yung iba, nagbabakasakali,” he said.

The return of these 206 Filipinos marks a significant step in addressing human trafficking and illegal recruitment. However, the government continues to face challenges in preventing similar cases and ensuring the safe reintegration of victims into society.