8 Pinoy victims of human trafficking back in PH

EIGHT Filipinos who have been victims of human trafficking in Myanmar have been rescued and returned to the Philippines last February 13, 2023, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported.

The victims arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 and were welcomed by DFA acting Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo Jose De Vega and other DFA officials.

The DFA said that four of the victims were “recruited online from Dubai to supposedly work as customer support representatives in Thailand.”

However, they were brought to Myanmar and forced to work as cryptocurrency scammers. The four, the DFA added, were all males.

The DFA likewise reminded Filipinos here and abroad to be vigilant of “spurious jobs” posted on social media to avoid human trafficking schemes.

“It is vital to pass through the legal deployment processes in the Philippines and arrive in their countries of destination not as tourists but with actual working visas,” the DFA said in a statement.

On the other hand, the four other victims, who were all females, were “detained for allegedly entering Myanmar illegally from Thailand.”

The Myanmar-Thai Friendship Bridge, a border crossing closed for nearly three years, was only reopened for the citizens of the two countries last month.

The DFA explained that crossing by other means is illegal, noting the entry points for foreigners are only through Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw airports.

De Vega lauded the efforts of government agencies for their rescue efforts and thanked Myanmar authorities for their assistance.