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BI says 346 Filipino human trafficking victims back in PH

Philippines | National

BI says 346 Filipino human trafficking victims back in PH

By Jeffrey Damicog

A total of 346 Filipino human trafficking victims have returned to the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Thursday, Nov. 13.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said the Filipinos arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Wednesday, Nov. 12, after having been rescued from scam hubs operating in the border areas of Myanmar.

“The Bureau of Immigration stands united with our partners in government in ensuring that our citizens are safe and that the perpetrators of these crimes are held accountable,” Viado said.

He said the rescue of the Filipinos was part of ongoing international efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks that exploit Filipinos and other Southeast Asians through fake online job offers.

“The trafficking of our fellow Filipinos into these scam hubs is an act of modern-day slavery,” he lamented.

“These criminal syndicates prey on the dreams of our people, luring them with promises of high-paying jobs only to trap them in illegal activities and deplorable conditions,” he said.

Thus, he warned the public against online job recruiters who offer employment in neighboring Asian countries, particularly those in regions known for operating scam hubs.

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