(Bureau of Immigration photo)
MANILA – Six human trafficking victims recruited to work in scam hubs in Myanmar have been repatriated to the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Saturday.
The latest batch of repatriates, composed of four men and two women, arrived on April 4, according to a news release.
The six, who left as tourists in 2023, reportedly received little to no salary and experienced physical and psychological abuse.
“Stop risking your life for these too-good-to-be-true job offers. Many have already suffered. Do not let yourself be the next victim,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement.
The Interpol (international police) also recently raised its alarm on gangs and scammers in Southeast Asia.
“Many countries have already agreed that this is a growing crisis. Yet some Filipinos insist on departing as tourist to try out work offers they receive online, only to be duped into working in these scam hubs,” Tansingco said. (With a report from Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
