MANILA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Seventy-eight Filipinos previously detained in Myanmar for immigration-related offenses were released, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Saturday.
In a statement on Saturday, the DFA said the Filipinos had been trafficked for work in scam centers and were serving sentences for illegal entry and residency.
The DFA expressed appreciation to Myanmar authorities for what it described as a "compassionate and humanitarian gesture" made during the Thingyan festival, reflecting goodwill between the two nations.
Despite intensified prevention campaigns, officials noted that many Filipinos continue to fall victim to recruitment schemes that lead to exploitation, forced criminality, and involvement in scamming operations.
Efforts are ongoing to recover and bring home Filipino human trafficking victims still trapped in scam hubs or forced to work in illegal call centers across the region. ■
