MANILA, Philippines — The number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who fell victim to human trafficking in Laos rose to 75, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Wednesday.
The department also said that a total of 52 Filipinos have been repatriated to the Philippines following the incident.
“We are currently identifying those who contacted, encouraged, and facilitated the arrival of these individuals to that country. This is our first step, in addition to providing various forms of assistance to the 52 of our fellow countrymen who were victims of human trafficking,” DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said in Filipino during a Palace public briefing.
Last week, a crackdown on a cyber scam network in Laos led to the arrest of 771 people. Those arrested included individuals from Burundi, Colombia, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Mozambique, Tunisia, the Philippines, Uganda, and Vietnam.
Their modus operandi is similar to previous cases, according to Olalia. They were offered jobs as customer service relations officers in Laos. However, upon arrival, they were targeted by members of a syndicate.
“When they were given jobs that didn’t match their original offer, they realized they were victims of human trafficking and sought rescue,” he said.
The repatriated OFWs have now received psychosocial services and are now being assessed for legal assistance, according to the DMW.
They will also receive financial aid from the department for them to stay in the Philippines while those who want to work overseas will be given a referral.
“We will advise them on which agencies and legitimate migration tracks they can turn to, ensuring they connect with employers who have valid and registered job orders,” Olalia said.
