176 Filipinos rescued from scam operations in Myanmar.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) successfully repatriated 176 Filipinos who were rescued from scam centers in Myawaddy, Myanmar.

The rescued individuals, believed to be victims of human trafficking (HTVs), were flown from Bangkok, Thailand and arrived in the Philippines early Wednesday. This follows a separate repatriation of 30 Filipino HTVs from Myanmar via Thailand on Tuesday.

Government's Commitment to Migrant Protection

"The Philippine government remains steadfast in protecting Filipinos abroad," the DFA stated, emphasizing that the country upholds strong migration protection mechanisms to ensure swift assistance for trafficking victims.

The DFA also urged Filipinos seeking overseas work to follow proper deployment procedures through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to avoid illegal recruitment and trafficking risks.

Cross-Border Rescue Operation

The repatriation was made possible through coordinated efforts with Myanmar and Thai authorities. On March 24 and 25, the victims were transported from Myawaddy, Myanmar, to Mae Sot, Thailand, before being bussed directly to Bangkok Airport for their flights back to Manila.

The DFA reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of overseas Filipinos, particularly those affected by human trafficking.

Source:https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/03/26/news/176-filipino-rescued-from-scam-centers-in-myanmar/2080219