53 human trafficking victims from Cambodia repatriated to PH — DMW

A total of 53 Filipinos who were victims of human trafficking from Cambodia were repatriated and arrived in the Philippines early Friday, the Department of Migrant Workers said.

The victims arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 2622 from Phnom Penh on March 13, 2026, following coordinated rescue and repatriation efforts by Philippine authorities.

According to the DMW, the victims were assisted by the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia and the agency’s Rapid Response Team to facilitate their return to the country.

Authorities said the victims were allegedly recruited through the messaging application Telegram and were promised salaries ranging from $600 to $1,000 along with valid working visas.

However, one victim revealed they were subjected to abuse after arriving in Cambodia.

The victim said they were allegedly forced to complete 300 push-ups, starved, and denied salaries after failing to meet a quota of 26 “love scam” clients per day.

The repatriated Filipinos were welcomed by a whole-of-government team composed of the Department of Migrant Workers, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Bureau of Immigration (Philippines), the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking, the Department of Health (Philippines), and the MIAA Medical Team to ensure proper processing and immediate assistance.

Two of the victims required medical attention — one suffering from kidney failure and another with a broken clavicle caused by a vehicle accident, according to the DMW.

They were provided medication and will be referred to Department of Health hospitals near their residences for free treatment.

The victims are also receiving temporary accommodation while their statements are being processed, as well as psychosocial counseling, reintegration assistance, and transportation to their respective provinces, the agency said. —Sherylin Untalan/AOL, GMA Integrated News