The repatriated Filipino victims of scam hubs in Myanmar will not face criminal charges, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the arrival of the latest batch of victims at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, De Vega said the assurance was made by the Thai government, which he thanked for its cooperation.
He said that while the Filipinos may have overstayed their visas in Thailand, its government refrained from charging them in order to expedite their repatriation.
Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty cited the “non-punishment principle” for human trafficking victims, ensuring they are not prosecuted for unlawful acts committed as a result of their trafficking experience. He emphasized that this practice is consistently upheld in the Philippines.
The latest batch of 176 repatriated Filipinos received immediate support from various government agencies, including financial aid, medical assistance and psychosocial services.
However, several Filipinos are still awaiting repatriation, with the number of victims growing from an initial 49 to 59. De Vega expressed hope that those hesitant to return would reconsider, emphasizing that Filipinos are not inherently scammers.