Largest batch of trafficked Filipinos back from Myanmar

A total of 346 Filipinos were repatriated after being rescued from scam compounds in Myawaddy, Myanmar, in what authorities described as one of the largest repatriations of victims recovered from scam hubs.

The Filipinos arrived through a chartered flight on Wednesday. According to Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Executive Director Hannah Manalili, the group included two batches.

Manalili said Batch A, composed of 219 individuals, were not classified by Thai authorities as human trafficking victims. They will still undergo victim identification protocols and proceedings under Philippine authorities.

Batch B, made up of 127 individuals, had been sheltered by non-governmental organizations and later turned over to border guard forces. They were processed under the Thai-Myanmar government-to-government repatriation protocol and were identified as human trafficking victims.

The repatriated Filipinos are currently housed in a government-managed facility for documentation, investigation, post-arrival processing, transportation to their hometowns, and livelihood assistance in the coming days.

“Investigations by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police have already begun and will keep on going to identify and hold accountable those responsible for these trafficking operations,” Manalili said.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac said the repatriated Filipinos were in “good spirits” upon their arrival.

He added that the operation began after Myanmar authorities conducted raids in the KK Scam Hub. The DMW, along with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, facilitated welfare assistance for the Filipinos for two weeks.

A 10-bus convoy transported the 346 Filipinos from Mae Sot to Bangkok in a seven-hour trip.

Authorities reported that 1,910 Filipinos have been repatriated from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and other countries since 2022. Most victims were lured online with promises of high salaries.