THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday raised the alarm on Filipinos still trapped in scam hubs across Southeast Asia.
Though it did not say how many Filipinos are working in scam hubs in the region, the department said it continues to receive reports of trafficking victims from various sources.
“The DFA works with its Foreign Service Posts, especially in Mainland Southeast Asia (Thailand, Myanmar, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Cambodia), to persistently devote efforts and resources in extending all possible assistance to our Filipinos in distress, while requesting the authorities of the host countries for their invaluable cooperation,” the DFA said in a statement.
It said the government remains committed to the rescue and repatriation of the victims to Manila even as it called on all Filipinos abroad to support efforts to prevent human trafficking and scamming operations.
The DFA also appealed to relatives of Filipinos working in these scam hubs to help the government by providing information to authorities.
It said those who have relatives they believe may be trapped in scam hubs in the vicinity of the Myanmar-Thai border may reach out to the Philippine embassies in Yangon and Bangkok through Yangon PE’s Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) hotline (+95 998 521 0991), email at yangonpe.atn@dfa.gov.ph, or through the official Philippine Embassy in Myanmar Facebook Messenger, and Bangkok PE’s Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) hotline +66 81989 7116, or email through bangkok.pe@dfa.gov.ph.
The DFA, with the assistance of the country’s embassies in the said countries and local authorities, have been rescuing Filipino trafficking victims forced to work in illegal call centers since last year.
