MANILA — Twenty-six Filipinos who were victims of labor trafficking in Malaysia were repatriated to the Philippines this week, the Bureau of Immigration said.

The group, composed of nine women and 17 men, arrived on March 16 via an AirAsia flight.

According to the BI, most of the repatriates left the country through illegal “backdoor” routes, often crossing southern borders and being secretly transported by boat to Malaysia.

BI Commissioner Joel Viado said records indicate the victims’ departures spanned nearly two decades, from 2006 to 2025. He noted that trafficking syndicates continue to exploit these illegal migration corridors to evade immigration controls.

“These victims were apprehended by Malaysian immigration authorities due to their undocumented status. Most were detained prior to their repatriation,” Viado added.

One female victim said she had initially been recruited as a waitress but was later coerced into sex work. Several male victims, recruited for construction work, reported maltreatment, including non-payment or underpayment of wages.