Manila: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is coordinating a visit to check on and assist 78 Filipinos currently detained in Myanmar linked to human trafficking and transnational scam hubs. In a media briefing Monday, DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Bay reported that the victims remain in Myanmar under local custody.
According to Philippines News Agency, Bay stated that there are approximately 78 Filipinos still in Myanmar, and efforts are underway to coordinate with the Philippine Embassy in Myanmar for their welfare, as there is no direct Philippine presence in the country. Clearance from Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pending, which will allow a team from Bangkok to visit the detained individuals.
Bay emphasized that the DMW is actively working with Myanmar authorities on the necessary protocols for the visit and subsequent repatriation. Data from the DMW shows that 839 Filipinos have been repatriated in 2025 through the AKSYON Fund, which covers repatriation tickets and provides welfare assistance including food, medical care, and basic necessities.
The issue of human trafficking linked to online scam hubs in Myanmar is a significant regional concern. Compounds near the Myanmar-Thailand border, such as the KK Park in Myawaddy, are known bases for cybercrime and human exploitation. Victims, often deceived by job offers on social media, are coerced into scam operations, facing confinement and abuse.
The Philippine government, through the DMW and partner agencies, has intensified operations to rescue and repatriate overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by these scam hubs in Myanmar. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac highlighted ongoing cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, particularly Thailand and Myanmar, to combat trafficking and protect affected nationals.
Cacdac assured that the detained Filipinos are monitored by the Philippine side, with cooperative measures between the Philippine and Myanmar governments to ensure their protection and eventual repatriation. Enhanced cooperation between Thailand and Myanmar is facilitating efforts to address the trafficking issue, with the Philippines actively participating in discussions within the ASEAN framework.
