222 Filipino trafficking victims from Myanmar ask for repatriation
In this image provided by the Myanmar military on Oct. 19, 2025, soldiers raid the KK Park online scam center in Myawaddy township, Karen State, Myanmar. (The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said 222 Filipinos who were victims of human trafficking in Myanmar have asked to be repatriated after they were found in scam hub compounds early last week.
In a statement on Sunday, Oct. 26, the DFA said that it is now working closely with the Philippine Embassy in Yangon in monitoring the situation in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
This came after confirmed reports of operations conducted by law enforcement authorities in scam hub compounds on Oct. 20.
“As of 24 October 2025, the Embassy has received 222 active requests for repatriation assistance from Filipinos in scam hub areas, of which 66 were reported to have crossed to Thailand, and 9 managed to travel to Yangon and are now under the Embassy's custody,” the DFA said.
“The Embassy is working with Myanmar authorities to finalize the deportation procedures for those currently in holding camps and to facilitate the rescue of those who remain in scam hub compounds,” it added.
Foreign media said that the Filipinos were among the more than 1,000 victims freed from Myanmar’s KK Park scam compound, which is being operated by Chinese mafia networks.
Authorities, however, would still need to determine if the rescued foreigners in the compound were victims of human trafficking or complicit in the illegal activities.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other relevant agencies, remains committed to the safe repatriation of affected Filipinos through established Government-to-Government (G2G) channels and continues to work with both Myanmar and Thai authorities to expedite the process,” the DFA assured.
Filipinos who are in scam hubs and their families who wish to request for assistance may contact the Philippine Embassy in Yangon through these hotline numbers: +959985210993, +959985210998, +959409883434 (Viber), +959985210996, and via email at [email protected].