MANILA, Philippines— A total of 30 Filipino victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking in Myanmar have safely returned to the Philippines according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Tuesday.

The repatriated individuals arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 0733. Their return was facilitated by the Philippine Embassy, Office of the Police Attaché, and Migrant Workers Office in Bangkok.

Upon arrival, the victims received immediate assistance, including psychosocial support, financial aid, and legal help from a whole-of-government team composed of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), DMW, Bureau of Immigration (BI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIA-TFAT).

Each victim was granted P50,000 in financial aid from the DMW’s AKSYON Fund and an additional ₱10,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

“Aside from financial assistance, one of the most crucial aspects is the legal support we will provide them,” said DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, who, alongside DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega, welcomed the repatriates.

The victims will also be referred to the DMW’s reintegration programs and upskilling training through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to help them rebuild their lives.

Meanwhile, the DMW is preparing to receive an additional 176 Filipino victims who are set to arrive on a chartered flight on March 26, 2025.

Undersecretary Olalia also expressed gratitude to the DFA for its rescue efforts and pledged continued collaboration with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), DOJ, and Philippine National Police (PNP) to dismantle the trafficking syndicates behind the scam hubs in Myanmar.

The victims were lured through WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram with fake job offers as customer sales representatives. Instead, they were forced to work as online scammers.

The DMW strongly urges overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and job seekers to remain vigilant against fraudulent job offers on social media, particularly those linked to cryptocurrency scams and “pig-butchering” scams. The public is advised to verify job offers through the DMW website (https://dmw.gov.ph/) and report illegal recruitment activities through the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau hotline at +63 2 8721-0619.