DFA: 7 Pinoys nabbed over Laos cyber scam repatriated to PH

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said seven Filipinos who were among those arrested over a cyber scam network in Laos were repatriated to the Philippines on Friday.

In a statement, the DFA said it is also working on the repatriation of 75 more Filipinos as the Department received a total of 129 requests for assistance.

“So far, we have responded to 129 requests for assistance, and already repatriated 7 Filipinos today. The Embassy is currently arranging the repatriation of 75 more Filipinos,” the DFA said.

“The team stands ready to assist Filipinos who may still be remaining in the Golden Triangle and will continue to work with Lao authorities to ensure their safety,” it added.

According to the DFA, two officials from its Office of the Undersecretary for Migration Affairs (OUMA) are in Laos to assist the concerned Filipinos.

Authorities in Laos have arrested almost 800 people working for a cyber scam network in a "special economic zone" on the border with Myanmar and Thailand, according to local media.

Located in Bokeo province, the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with Chinese-owned casinos and hotels was a suspected hub for illegal activity in recent years, the Agence France-Presse reported.

A total of 771 people were detained mostly from Laos, Myanmar and China. Some of them are from Burundi, Colombia, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Mozambique, Tunisia, the Philippines, Uganda and Vietnam.

The crackdown is part of a larger effort to stamp out transnational crimes within the SEZ, according to the report. 

According to the DFA, the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane is working closely with Lao authorities and has sent a team to Bokeo to facilitate the release and extraction of distressed Filipinos.

"The DFA is also funding their flights from Bokeo to Vientiane and onward to the Philippines, including accommodation, food and basic needs,” it added.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) chief Hans Leo Cacdac earlier advised all Filipino job applicants to ensure that they have a work visa as well as a contract reviewed by the DMW, and that they are engaging with a licensed recruitment agency.

He said the DMW is set to give help to the concerned Filipinos when they arrive in the Philippines.