Even after a huge 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar last month, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) says they are still helping Filipinos who were tricked and trapped there.
Many of these Filipinos were promised great jobs, but when they got to Myanmar, they were forced to work in scam hubs — places where they had to trick people online. These Filipinos were victims of human trafficking.
Still Helping, Even After the Earthquake
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that the Philippine government is working with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to bring the remaining victims back home.
Some victims are staying in government shelters in Myawaddy, a town in Myanmar. When the earthquake happened, at least six Filipinos were there — but don’t worry, they are safe because they were far from where the earthquake hit the hardest.
Some Victims Don’t Want to Come Home Yet
Even though many want to go home, some Filipinos chose to stay in Myanmar. Cacdac explained that even if some don’t want to return now, the government is always ready to help whenever they are ready.
So far, more than 200 Filipinos have already been rescued and brought home to the Philippines in small groups.
Tricked by Fake Job Offers
These Filipinos were illegally sent out of the country through the “backdoor” — meaning, they left without going through the legal process. They were told they’d be working in jobs like customer service, but when they arrived in Myanmar, they were treated badly and forced to scam others online.
A Reminder: Don’t Fall for Fake Promises
Secretary Cacdac reminded everyone: If a job offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. He said that if you want to work in another country, like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, or Myanmar, you must have a work permit, and your recruiter should be officially licensed by the DMW.
More Help for Victims
The DMW promised to give not just money, but also legal help and programs that can help the victims start fresh once they’re home.
Catching the Bad Guys
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) also took action. They removed seven of their officers who might have helped Filipinos leave the country illegally.
Police also arrested two people known as ‘Fiona’ and ‘Jon Jon’ in separate operations. They were believed to be part of the illegal recruitment that sent Filipinos to those scam hubs in Myanmar.
