Manila - Four Filipinos deceived by a fellow countryman into working for a fraudulent online company in Myanmar have been repatriated, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed on Saturday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the group, consisting of two women and two men, arrived back in the Philippines on June 26 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City. The victims, all in their 30s, had initially left the Philippines as tourists heading for Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan but were later transported to Myanmar by boat. "It's sad to hear that our own kababayan (compatriot) facilitates the trafficking of other Filipinos. They put the lives of their compatriots in danger," stated BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
The victims reported that they had to pay hefty penalties, approximately PHP127,000, to secure their release, and two of them did not receive their last salaries. "We are now grappling again with the recurring scheme that has victimized many unsuspecting Filipinos," the BI chief added. The bureau is committed to enforcing strict departure protocols and launching robust communication campaigns to inform the public and combat this recurring fraudulent scheme.