Following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen efforts against transnational crimes, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) today confirmed the successful repatriation of 346 Filipino victims of human trafficking from clandestine scam operations in the border regions of Myanmar.
The repatriates arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR8502 on Tuesday, November 12, as part of an intensive, coordinated international effort to dismantle criminal syndicates exploiting Southeast Asian workers.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado renewed his forceful call to end human trafficking, condemning the practice as “modern slavery.”
“The trafficking of our fellow Filipinos into these scam hubs is an act of modern slavery,” Commissioner Viado stated. “These criminal syndicates prey on the dreams of our people, luring them with false promises of high-paying jobs only to trap them in illegal activities and deplorable conditions in digital forced-labor camps.”
The repatriation mission underscores the Philippine government’s unwavering commitment to the protection of overseas Filipinos (OFs) and the swift recovery of those victimized by cross-border trafficking schemes.
“We are thankful for the swift inter-agency coordination that made this crucial mission possible,” Viado added. “The Bureau of Immigration stands united with our partners in government in ensuring that our citizens are safe and that the perpetrators of these crimes are held fully accountable under the law.”
The BI is reiterating its strongest warning to the public to remain extremely vigilant against deceptive online job recruiters offering employment, especially in neighboring Asian countries and regions known for operating organized crime hubs. The repatriates are currently undergoing essential debriefing and reintegration processes facilitated by relevant government agencies.
