Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Zyann Ambrosio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- The Philippine government is working in high gear against human trafficking—an international crime where many Filipinos have fallen victim to abuse. </p><p>According to Immigration deputy spokesperson Melvin Mabulac, a total of 114 Filipinos have been repatriated from scam hubs in just 2 weeks.</p><p>“From July 31 until August 9, there were seven repatriation dates. In total, 114 Filipinos were brought home—77 from Laos and 37 from Myanmar. Of these, 61 are women and 53 are men,&quot; he said.</p><p>The Department of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, said 600 Filipino trafficking victims have been rescued from Laos and Myanmar, with 148 cases still pending.</p><p>Latest findings by the Bureau of Immigration revealed that of the 114 Filipinos recently repatriated, 57 left the country posing as tourists, while 53 departed as legitimate overseas Filipino workers with proper documents. </p><p>Four others had no records in the Border Control Information System, suggesting they may have slipped out through backdoor exits.</p><p>“It’s very challenging for us because most of the victims left with their families, had good profiles, and complete travel records,” Mabulac explained.</p><p>The Philippine government has also repatriated 39 more Filipinos from Lagos, Nigeria, who were trafficked into cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams—similar to cases earlier uncovered in Cambodia. One victim, a new mother, remains in Nigeria for now.</p><p>Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac explained, “I was in Lagos just a few days ago… this was our mission to scope out the situation of migrant workers in West Africa. They were actually rescued as part of a trade in Lagos, Nigeria. This is also a cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scam similar to what we’re talking about right now in Cambodia.”</p><p>The rescued Filipinos are expected to arrive in Manila at 4:30 p.m. today, where the whole-of-government will provide assistance and reintegration support.</p><div><br/></div><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/iOTtGBoTX7k?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine government is working in high gear against human trafficking—an international crime where many Filipinos have fallen victim to abuse.</p>

The Philippine government is working in high gear against human trafficking—an international crime where many Filipinos have fallen victim to abuse.

114 Filipinos repatriated from scam hubs in 2 weeks; 40 more coming home from Nigeria

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114 Filipinos repatriated from scam hubs in 2 weeks; 40 more coming home from Nigeria

Zyann Ambrosio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 18, 2025 05:46 PM PHT

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Updated August 18, 2025 08:10 PM PHT

Read More:

Bureau of Immigration

DFA

Department of Foreign Affairs

human trafficking

expatriation

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