PH obtaining clearances for Filipinos rescued from Myanmar scam farms

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said it is coordinating with authorities in Myanmar and Thailand to obtaining exit clearances for Filipinos rescued from scam farms.

Philippine diplomats are already arranging appropriate permits for Filipinos to be able to cross from Myanmar to Thailand at the earliest opportunity possible, the DFA said.

"This delicate process has been complicated by the extraordinarily large number of different nationals in the border area," DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona said.

Escalona said another group of 14 Filipinos were rescued from a Myanmar scam hub in Hexin, adding that all efforts are being exerted towards their safe return back to the country.

"Our diplomatic personnel have also sought the assistance of our contacts on the ground to extend welfare assistance to the Filipinos," she said.

More than 200 Filipinos who were recruited to work in various scam farms in Myanmar earlier sought the Philippine government's assistance for repatriation.

As of October 24, 2025, the DFA said its embassy in Myanmar has received 222 active requests for assistance from Filipinos in scam hub areas, of which 66 were reported to have crossed to Thailand, and nine managed to travel to capital Yangon and are under the embassy's custody.

Many victims of scam farm operations who were initially promised legal jobs are kidnapped and sold to other fraudulent operations, according to a United Nations report.

The DFA advised all Filipinos to go through proper foreign employment procedures established by the Department of Migrant Workers before departing the country for overseas employment. — BM, GMA Integrated News