THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it is monitoring the case of 78 overseas Filipinos previously rescued from a scam compound in Myawaddy and currently held in Hpa-An for alleged immigration violations.
In a statement, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Yangon has conducted two welfare checks on the victims being detained in Hpa-An, Myanmar, some 300 kilometers from the capital Yangon.
“The Embassy is actively coordinating continued access to provide welfare and legal assistance as approved by the host authorities,” the statement read.
“Communication with the families of the affected Filipinos is ongoing based on verified Embassy updates,” it added.
On February 23, the Deputy Governor of Tak Province in Thailand confirmed that 78 individuals—27 females and 51 males who were rescued from scam centers in Myawaddy were being detained for “illegal entry.”
The DFA emphasized that protecting Filipinos, especially those reported as victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking, remains a top priority.
It said the initiative is a key aspect of its ongoing diplomatic engagements with overseas authorities.
The DFA also committed to collaborating closely with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) office in Bangkok and other government agencies to resolve the case.
In October 2025, the DFA reported that the Philippine Embassy in Yangon received 222 repatriation requests from Filipinos in scam hub areas.
In response, the DMW confirmed that 71 Filipinos rescued from human trafficking rings in Myanmar safely returned to the Philippines in December.
Reports indicated that nearly 1,000 foreigners, 66 of them Filipinos, successfully escaped Myanmar and crossed into Thailand following a military operation against the Chinese-backed KK Park, a known cybercrime compound.
Earlier this year, as the Philippines’ assumed the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN), DFA Secretary Theresa Lazaro, acting as the special envoy to Myanmar, met with senior leaders of Myanmar regarding regional geopolitical developments, the country’s political situation, as well as the implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus.
