Manila: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently reported the return of seven Filipino nationals who fell victim to scam operations in Myanmar. These individuals, consisting of four women and three men, aged between their 20s and 30s, were repatriated on a Philippine Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand. Their arrival was facilitated by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Task Force on Anti-Trafficking (NAIA-FAT).

According to Philippines News Agency, six of the victims had exited the country through an illegal migration route known as the "backdoor," while one traveled under the guise of a tourist heading to Thailand. The BI revealed that the victims were lured by job offers posted in Facebook groups, promising lucrative salaries for roles such as encoding work in Thailand and customer service positions.

One female victim detailed her harrowing experience, starting with a job advertisement that promised a salary of around THB30,000. Contacted by a Filipino handler via Facebook Messenger and Telegram, she was instructed to travel by boat from Tawi-Tawi to Malaysia, later moving to Mae Sot, Thailand, before finally being taken to Myanmar. Despite being promised a job in Myanmar, she faced grueling 16-hour workdays and abusive conditions, along with a THB1,000 fine for failing to recruit clients. Her attempt to resign was met with detention, requiring a payment of PHP40,000 for her release, after which she sought help from the Philippine Embassy.

A male victim recounted a similar ordeal after responding to a Facebook job post offering a PHP30,000 salary for a customer service role. Initially given social media tasks, he was coerced into participating in a love scam operation. He endured severe punishments, including standing under the sun and extended overtime hours. After a failed resignation attempt, he was detained for 23 days without electricity, subjected to brutal treatments like having his head shaved. Eventually, he borrowed money from fellow Filipinos to secure his release and sought assistance from Thai authorities and the Philippine embassy.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasized the risks of accepting unverified online job offers that promise high salaries in exchange for irregular travel arrangements. He warned, "These stories are getting worse. Victims are sold, tortured, and exploited by these big syndicates abroad. Do not be the next victim."

The BI continues to enhance its efforts to combat human trafficking, but Commissioner Viado stressed the importance of public vigilance and cooperation in these endeavors.