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Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac meets nine Filipino workers who were rescued from a human trafficking scheme in Laos on August 25, 2024. Handout/DMW

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac meets nine Filipino workers who were rescued from a human trafficking scheme in Laos on August 25, 2024

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1725345147177090324_DMW.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac meets nine Filipino workers who were rescued from a human trafficking scheme in Laos on August 25, 2024. Handout/DMW"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac meets nine Filipino workers who were rescued from a human trafficking scheme in Laos on August 25, 2024. <em>Handout/DMW</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Department of Migrant Workers said the government is working on bringing home the remaining Filipinos who were victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment in Laos. </p><p>&quot;We’re still working closely with the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane. We recently had a coordination meeting with Secretary Ricky&#x27;s team. Inaantabayan natin. We know there are efforts underway to repatriate them,&quot; DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday.</p><p>Last week, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said 52 out of the 75 overseas Filipino workers have been repatriated by the government.</p><p>The DMW said the OFWs were rescued from scam syndicates at the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo Province, Laos.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/25/9-pinoys-rescued-from-human-trafficking-scheme-in-laos-2306">READ: 9 Pinoys rescued from human trafficking scheme in Laos</a></div><p>&quot;Ang modus operandi nila ay tulad din ng mga nakaraan. Sila po ay binigyan ng offer na sila ay maging customer service relations officer sa bansang Laos. Pagdating doon ay sila pala ay bibiktimahin at miyembro ng sindikato,&quot; he said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing last week.</p><p>&quot;Noong sila ay binibigyan ng trabaho na hindi tugma sa kanilang job offer, nalaman nila sila ay biktima ng human trafficking. Kaya nagpa rescue po sila,&quot; he added.</p><p>The DMW said it provided financial assistance, psycho-social support and legal assistance to the OFWs.</p><p>For those who still want to work abroad,  the DMW will provide them with referrals to legitimate and valid registered job orders.</p><p>Cacdac said they also asked help from the Department of Justice for the filing of charges against the recruiters of the Filipinos.</p><p>&quot;Doon sa mga nakauwi, aside from the assistance financial assistance and such livelihood, sila ay subjected narin to yung processing ng kanilang mga statements and complaints. We&#x27;re working closely with Secretary Remulla and the DOJ sa pagsampa ng human trafficking cases dito sa Philippine element ng krimen na naganap. Yung mga nag recruit sa kanila,&quot; he said.</p><p>The DMW is coordinating with other government agencies on the crackdown of companies in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.</p><p>&quot;Patuloy po ang maigting na pakikipagtulungan natin at ang komunikasyon natin sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na miyembro ng IACAT [Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking], kasama na po of course ang DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs ]. Sa mga lugar po na kasulukuyang may operation yung Golden Triangle na yan, wala po tayong Migrant Workers Office. Habang wala pang Migrant Workers Office, yung DFA po at ang iba nating katuwang sa IACAT ang hihingan natin ng tulong,&quot;</p><p>Aside from Laos, the government has repatriated Filipino victims from Myanmar.</p><p>Olalia added they have identified the &quot;backdoor&quot; being utilized by human traffickers, saying they are implementing measures to prevent the illegal activity.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nLosqF7sZsg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><strong>PINOYS ON BOARD MV GALAXY LEADER</strong></div><p>The DMW also gave an update on the 17 Filipino seafarers on board MV Galaxy Leader.</p><p>Cadac said they remain in close contact with the families of the affected crew.</p><p>&quot;We are still coordinated with the families, yan ang pangunahing direktiba sa DMW and OWWA ng Pangulo. Sa pagsecure ng release nila, we are coordinated with the DFA who is currently undertaking the effort to do so,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;We know na may coordination na, may pakikipagusap na sa mga governments na may communication lines with the Houthis who are holding the 17. We know they are safe and sound still at this stage, they are on board the ship. However, we are still coordinating with the DFA doon sa safe, eventual release nila,&quot; the DMW chief added.</p><p>Earlier this month, the Presidential Communications Office said some of the 17 Filipino crew are suffering from malaria symptoms. </p><p>In November last year, Houthis hijacked the Israeli-owned vessel in the Red Sea.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/30/2-travel-firm-employees-arrested-for-illegal-recruitment-1826">READ: 2 &#x27;travel firm&#x27; employees arrested for illegal recruitment</a></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Migrant Workers said the government is working on bringing home the remaining Filipinos who were victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment in Laos.</p>

The Department of Migrant Workers said the government is working on bringing home the remaining Filipinos who were victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment in Laos.

DMW: Gov't working on repatriation of Filipino human trafficking victims in Laos

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DMW: Gov't working on repatriation of Filipino human trafficking victims in Laos

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 03, 2024 02:34 PM PHT

Read More:

Department of Migrant Workers

Laos

human trafficking

Golden Triangle

scams

syndicates

OFWs

Hans Cacdac

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