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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA welcomes release of 78 Filipinos in Myanmar, repatriation underway

DFA welcomes release of 78 Filipinos in Myanmar, repatriation underway

Filipino trafficking victims freed during Thingyan; gov't eyes prosecution of illegal recruiters

Published Apr 18, 2026 09:24 pm
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomes the release of 78 Filipinos and coordinates their safe return from Myanmar. (DFA / MB Visual Content Group)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomes the release of 78 Filipinos and coordinates their safe return from Myanmar. (DFA / MB Visual Content Group)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday, April 18, confirmed the release of 78 Filipinos who had been detained in Myanmar for immigration-related offenses after being trafficked to work in scam centers.
In a statement, the DFA said the Filipinos had been serving sentences for illegal entry and residency when Myanmar authorities granted their release as part of a humanitarian gesture during the Myanmar New Year.
“All the Filipinos were trafficked for employment in scam centers in Myanmar and had been serving sentences for illegal entry and residency,” the DFA said.
The department also expressed its “appreciation to Myanmar authorities for this compassionate and humanitarian gesture, made during the Myanmar New Year (Thingyan), which reflects the goodwill between Myanmar and the Philippines.”
The DFA added that the Philippine Embassy in Yangon is now coordinating with Myanmar officials to ensure the “prompt, safe, and orderly repatriation” of the 78 Filipinos back to the country.
Authorities said the individuals were victims of trafficking schemes that lured them into illegal employment in scam hubs abroad—an issue that has increasingly affected Filipino workers in parts of Southeast Asia.
The DFA reiterated its commitment to protecting Filipinos overseas, in line with its foreign policy priorities, and said it is working closely with the Department of Migrant Workers to assist returning nationals.
“The Department reaffirms its foreign policy pillar of protecting Filipino nationals overseas, in collaboration with the Department of Migrant Workers, and will continue to work with relevant law enforcement agencies toward the prosecution of illegal recruiters of Filipinos trafficked for illegal jobs abroad,” the DFA said.
It also vowed to pursue legal action against recruiters and syndicates involved in trafficking Filipinos for illegal jobs overseas, in coordination with law enforcement agencies.
The latest development underscores ongoing government efforts to curb human trafficking and dismantle transnational scam operations exploiting foreign workers.

Related Tags

DFA Myanmar Filipinos released Myanmar human trafficking Philippines scam centers Southeast Asia OFW repatriation
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