OFWs return from Myanmar; Pasig visa firm ordered closed

MANILA, Philippines — Thirteen Filipino victims of human trafficking from Myanmar were repatriated to the Philippines on Wednesday, the Department of Migrant Workers announced.

According to the DMW, the repatriates arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay on a Philippine Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Initial reports said the victims were recruited through deceptive online job postings offering high-paying employment abroad, but were later subjected to exploitative and illegal working conditions in Myanmar.

Authorities said investigations would continue to identify and hold accountable those behind the illegal recruitment and trafficking scheme.

The government reiterated its warning against fraudulent overseas job offers, particularly those circulated online and linked to trafficking rings operating in parts of Southeast Asia.

It urged job seekers to verify recruitment agencies before accepting overseas employment.

Meanwhile, the DMW ordered on Thursday the closure of State 101 travel visa consultancy in Pasig for its alleged illegal recruitment activities involving Filipino caregivers bound for the United States.

Authorities said State 101 is not licensed or authorized by the DMW and has no approved job orders for deployment to the US.

During the operation, two former applicants were intercepted while submitting documents for caregiving jobs abroad.

“Initial investigation showed that both applicants, along with two other complainants, have already paid substantial placement and processing fees to the consultancy firm,” DMW said.

It added that State 101 “referred applicants to US employers for caregiver positions using tourist visas, with promised monthly salaries of $1,800 or around P109,800.”

According to the DMW, the applicants were asked to pay as much as P150,000 for documentation and processing.