More than 200 alleged Filipino human trafficking victims from illegal scam centres in Myawaddy, Myanmar, have sought the help of the Philippine government for repatriation, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
It added that the Philippine embassy continues to closely monitor the situation in Myawaddy, Myanmar, following confirmed reports of law enforcement operations conducted in scam hub compounds on Oct 20, 2025.
The DFA advised all Filipinos to go through proper foreign employment procedures established by the DMW before departing the country for overseas employment.
Many Filipinos, lured by high-paying jobs, continue to fall prey to fake work offers in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia despite warnings from the government and end up in forced labor in scam centres in these countries.
The UN has expressed alarm over the situation, saying it has “reached the level of a humanitarian and human rights crisis.” — Bernama
