The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday reported the safe repatriation of several Filipino victims of human trafficking who arrived aboard MV Antonia from Malaysia last 17 January.

The returnees, mostly women aged 23 to 32, were identified as trafficking victims after investigations revealed they had been deceived by false promises of legitimate employment abroad. 

Many were lured through online recruitment schemes or offered supposed jobs in call centers and service-related industries, only to face exploitative and abusive conditions upon arrival in their destination countries.

BI said several of the victims departed the Philippines through illegal and irregular migration routes, including passages through Palawan and Mindanao en route to Malaysia. 

Upon interception by Malaysian authorities, some were detained for immigration violations and reportedly spent months in jail before being deported back to the Philippines.

Others were recruited for work allegedly in call centers and service establishments in neighboring countries, which later turned out to be fraudulent or exploitative, further highlighting the risks posed by illegal recruitment networks operating outside government-regulated deployment channels.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Filipinos from traffickers who prey on vulnerability and false promises.

“Traffickers take advantage of vulnerable Filipinos, lure them with fake jobs, and abandon them once they are trapped overseas. This administration will not tolerate that,” Viado said.

“They are victims of deception and exploitation. Our duty is to bring them home safely, ensure they receive proper assistance, and make sure those responsible for trafficking are held accountable," he added.

Upon arrival in the country, the repatriated victims were immediately provided with assistance and support services by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), including psychosocial help and coordination for possible legal action against their recruiters.

Viado also issued a renewed warning to the public against illegal recruiters who encourage Filipinos to bypass lawful deployment processes.

“No legitimate overseas job requires you to travel through backdoor routes or irregular corridors,” he said. “Filipinos should always verify overseas employment offers and coordinate only with the Department of Migrant Workers.”

The government continues to urge the public to remain vigilant and to report suspected trafficking and illegal recruitment activities as part of its broader effort to safeguard overseas Filipino workers from exploitation.