The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has issued an urgent public advisory calling on all Filipinos to exercise extreme caution regarding unusual and illicit travel routes utilized by syndicates involved in human trafficking to smuggle victims out of the country.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac sounded the alarm, citing reports gathered from key partner agencies, including the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
These reports detail a specific, deceptive route where victims were taken from Manila to Puerto Princesa, before being illegally transported out of the country via ports in Rizal and Palawan. The process involved moving victims aboard boats and through various non-traditional transit points—a departure method that Secretary Cacdac stressed is a “clear sign of an illegal operation.”
The DMW strongly reiterated that all legitimate applications and deployment processes for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) must exclusively adhere to DMW-accredited procedures. The public is reminded that any application bypassing these official channels is highly suspicious and puts the applicant at severe risk of exploitation and trafficking.
The agency reaffirms its commitment to coordinating closely with law enforcement and government partners to aggressively prevent fraudulent recruitment and human trafficking practices that jeopardize the safety and welfare of aspiring OFWs.
