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Dozens of Filipinos were trafficked into scam compounds in Myanmar after being lured with false promises of high-paying jobs, according to the Philippine Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
The commission said victims were recruited via messaging apps and told they would be working as customer service or chat support agents. Instead, they were smuggled through Thailand and taken to compounds in Myawaddy, a town near the Myanmar border notorious for hosting online scam operations run by organized crime groups.
Repatriated victims described harrowing conditions inside the scam centers. Survivors said they were held against their will, subjected to physical abuse, and forced to work under threats of violence. Reports also included accounts of torture, denial of medical care, and sexual abuse. Many lived in overcrowded facilities with inadequate food and water.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and other Philippine agencies have so far repatriated more than 200 Filipinos, including 176 rescued from Myawaddy in March. Authorities are providing the returnees with shelter, medical care, and legal assistance.
The CHR reminded the public that human trafficking is a serious crime under Philippine law, citing Republic Acts 9208 and 10364, which criminalize forced labor, sexual exploitation, and deception. The Commission also noted that the Philippines is a signatory to the U.N. Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, obligating the country to protect victims and provide essential support services.
Citing a 2023 report from the Freedom Fund, the CHR warned that human trafficking in Myanmar is worsening due to armed conflict and economic instability, making vulnerable populations — including women and migrant workers — more susceptible to exploitation in scam centers and forced labor camps.
The Commission called on the government to intensify efforts against human trafficking networks, enhance border security, prosecute illegal recruiters, and ensure survivors receive long-term assistance.
