The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), in coordination with several government agencies, successfully repatriated 35 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Cambodia on December 31, 2025. The group included victims of illegal recruitment, human trafficking, and online scam hub operations.
The returnees arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in three separate batches:
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Batches 1 & 2: Sixteen victims of human trafficking arrived via AirAsia flights AK-586 and AK-582, transiting through Kuala Lumpur.
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Batch 3: Nineteen individuals arrived via a direct Philippine Airlines flight (PR-2622) from Phnom Penh. This group included 18 trafficking victims and one OFW released after serving a sentence for a money laundering-related offense.
Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “Bagong Pilipinas” principle, the repatriation was a result of seamless coordination between the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh and the Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) in Singapore and Thailand.
In Cambodia, the OFWs were assisted by DMW Assistant Secretary Venecio Legaspi, Philippine Embassy ATN Officer Mike Yturriaga, and Social Welfare Officer Dexter Paro. Upon their arrival in Manila, they were met by a reception team led by Assistant Secretary Maria Regina Angela Galias, alongside representatives from:
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The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
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The Bureau of Immigration (BI)
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The NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIA-TFAT)
The DMW provided immediate financial and welfare assistance to all returnees to aid in their reintegration. However, the Department also issued a stern reminder to the public regarding the dangers of “scam hub” recruitment. “We urge our kababayans to remain extremely vigilant against fraudulent job offers circulating on social media,” the DMW stated. “Always verify the legitimacy of overseas employment through official DMW channels before accepting any offers or flying abroad.”
The DMW remains committed to dismantling illegal recruitment networks and ensuring the safety of Filipinos working overseas.
