78 Pinoy trafficking victims freed in Myanmar — DFA

The repatriation of 78 Filipino trafficking victims from scam centers is being processed following their release in Myanmar, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement on Saturday, the DFA said the Filipinos were detained for immigration-related offenses in Myanmar and had been serving sentences for illegal entry and residency.

“The Philippine Embassy in Yangon is currently facilitating the prompt, safe and orderly repatriation of the 78 Filipinos to the Philippines, in coordination with Myanmar authorities,” DFA said.  

“The Department expresses 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,” it added.

DMW repatriated 839 Filipinos from Myanmar in 2025, of which 690 received welfare assistance.

DMW has been monitoring online postings of package tours and job opportunities supposedly in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar after more than 200 Filipinos in Myanmar sought the government’s assistance for repatriation.

Authorities have also taken down at least 17,000 posts related to illegal recruitment and fake job opportunities on social media platforms. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA News