176 Filipino victims of human trafficking repatriated from Myanmar

The Philippine authorities repatriated 176 Filipinos who were reportedly victims of human trafficking and had been forced to work in illegal scam operations in Myawaddy, Myanmar.

The group arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in the early hours of Wednesday, March 26, 2025, on a special flight from Bangkok. "This successful operation reaffirms the country as the gold standard in migration protection mechanisms, ensuring that overseas Filipinos – particularly those identified as alleged victims of human trafficking – receive the prompt support and assistance needed," DFA said on a statement.

The DFA also facilitated the repatriation of 30 more Filipinos from Myanmar via Thailand, bringing the total number of repatriated individuals to 206. DFA Undersecretary for Migration Affairs Eduardo José A. de Vega said that they conducted a week-long diplomatic mission to facilitate the release of the Filipinos.

According to officials, the repatriated Filipinos were deceived by fake job offers and coerced into working in online scam centers.