The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assured the nine Filipino victims of a human trafficking scheme in Laos of full government support following their rescue.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the nine rescued Filipino victims were the first among 73 Filipino victims of human trafficking rescued from scam syndicates located at the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, Bokeo Province in Laos.
They arrived in Manila on Aug. 25.
“The DMW and other agencies will provide financial assistance, psycho-social support, and legal assistance, among other services, to the trafficking survivors,” said Cacdac.
Based on the initial investigation, the victims were promised work as customer service representatives in Thailand. However, they ended up being forced to work as scammers.
Cacdac said the rescue of the trafficking survivors is a result of joint efforts of member agencies of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) that includes DMW and the Department of Foreign Affairs as members.