MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urges families of Filipinos believed to be victims of human trafficking, particularly in the vicinity of the Myanmar-Thai border, to reach out and provide verified information, for their rescue and repatriation.
In a statement, the DFA confirmed that it continues to receive reports of alleged Filipino Human Trafficking Victims (HTVs) still trapped inside different scam centers in Southeast Asia.
“In response, the DFA works with its Foreign Service Posts, especially in Mainland Southeast Asia (Thailand, Myanmar, Lao PDR and Cambodia), to persistently devote efforts and resources in extending all possible assistance to our Filipinos in distress, while requesting the authorities of the host countries for their invaluable cooperation,” the statement read.
According to the DFA, it remains committed to the rescue and repatriation of all Filipino HTVs working in illegal call centers in the region.
“We call on all our kababayans, including our Filipino communities abroad, to support all efforts to prevent all modes of recruitment and victimization of our Filipino nationals in schemes that lead to forced criminality and participation in scamming operations,” the DFA said.
Families of alleged victims may reach out to the Philippine Embassies in Yangon and Bangkok through Yangon PE’s Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) hotline (+95 998 521 0991), email at [email protected], or through the official Philippine Embassy in Myanmar Facebook Messenger, and Bangkok PE’s Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) hotline +66 81989 7116 or email through [email protected], DFA mentioned.
The Department reminded the public that the Philippine government reiterates its advice to all Filipinos to pass through the proper deployment procedures established by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other concerned agencies, prior to departing the country for overseas employment.
