By Alec Go
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) appealed anew to individuals seeking overseas opportunities to avoid dealing with illegal recruiters on social media.
DMW Secretary Susan Ople made the appeal amid reports that a Filipino tourist in Thailand was arrested and detained in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
“Let me just say that we appeal to everyone, please try as much as possible to refrain from engaging with illegal recruiters and human traffickers via social media platforms. Iwasan na po natin ‘yan,” she said during an interview with CNN’s The Source.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, there are legitimate ways to look for and apply for work abroad. Going to social media is not one of them,” she added.
In late November last year, the DMW expressed alarm over the online illegal recruitment of Filipinos to work as technical support in “techno parks” along the Myanmar-Thailand border, which Ople described as “forced labor and human trafficking hubs in disguise.”
According to Senator Risa Hontiveros, the same trafficking modus is also present in Cambodia.
The Philippine Embassy in Thailand said in an advisory on Jan. 6 that it continues to receive reports from Filipinos who were victimized by human trafficking in the Mekong Region, including Laos and Myanmar.
“Dumadami ang kaso ng mga Pilipinong pinangakuan ng trabaho sa Thailand, ngunit kalaunan ay itinatawid sa mga karatig bansa tulad ng Laos at Myanmar, upang magtrabaho para sa mga kumpanyang gumagawa ng krimen, kahit labag ito sa kanilang mga kalooban,” it said.
Meanwhile, in the case of the Filipino tourist who was recently arrested, Ople said efforts are underway for her repatriation.
“I think and I’m pretty sure the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] is doing everything it can to bring her home,” she said.
“It’s not easy because that area of Myanmar is not exactly accessible, and ‘yun ang typical scenario sa mga cryptocurrency compounds, they are, sa atin na tinatawag na mga liblib na lugar,” she added. – gb
