Over 170 Filipinos rescued from Myanmar scam farms return home

More than 170 Filipinos who were promised jobs in Thailand but were instead trafficked, scammed, and even tortured in Myanmar have finally returned home.

According to a report by JP Soriano on "24 Oras”, a chartered flight carrying Philippine officials traveled to Thailand to fetch the rescued victims from scam hubs in Myanmar.

Since they were smuggled into Myanmar, their last official passport stamp was from Thailand, making them appear as overstaying visitors. However, Thai authorities allowed them to leave immediately via the chartered flight to Manila.

Among the rescued victims was “Rose”, who shared how she and her husband “Ron” were recruited via a messaging app to work as call center agents in Thailand.

They were first flown to Hong Kong, then proceeded to Bangkok and from there were transported by boat to Myanmar. 

“Tinorture po nila kami ng asawa ko dun sa isang room tapos no food intake po ng halos isang linggo,” she said. 

(My husband and I were tortured in a room, and we were deprived of food for almost a week.)

Even after discovering that “Rose” was pregnant, their “employers” continued to abuse them.

“Tinutukan po ako ng baril. Kahit na nagmamakaawa na po kami ng asawa ko hindi pa rin sila tumitigil, talaga pong sinasaktan pa rin nila kami,” Rose added. 

(They pointed a gun at me, and even though my husband and I were begging, they did not stop. They continued to hurt us.)

In Myanmar, the couple was separated by their captors. Eventually, they reunited after being “sold” multiple times by their Chinese employer. To prevent Ron from escaping, his Chinese boss burned his passport.

Meanwhile, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega explained the circumstances that led to their return.

“The only reason na umuuwi sila ngayon ay dahil nagsasara yung mga scam factories. This is a trilateral cooperation between Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines,” he shared.

(The only reason they are returning now is that these scam factories are shutting down. This is a trilateral cooperation between Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines.)

However, De Vega revealed that many Filipinos remain trapped in scam hubs across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, with most of them being trafficked through Thailand.

OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio then urged Filipinos to be cautious when seeking job opportunities abroad.

“Intindihin naman natin na talagang kailangan ng trabaho pero huwag na sa ganitong paraan,” he said. 

(We understand the need for jobs, but not through this kind of process.)

Upon their return to the Philippines, the victims provided sworn statements to help file cases against their recruiters. They will also receive government assistance to help them recover from their ordeal. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News