Senator Risa Hontiveros personally welcomed over 100 Filipino trafficking victims who arrived in Manila on Wednesday, March 26, after being rescued from scam hubs in Myanmar.
“Thank God they are back home. While we are glad that they are home safe, their unfortunate experience in the hands of their Chinese scam bosses in Myanmar is extremely infuriating,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.
The senator, along with Akbayan party-list nominee Rep. Chel Diokno, sat down with some of the repatriates who had reached out to them for rescue. The group shared gruesome stories of torture, rape, and other forms of violence.
“There were women who got raped, pregnants who were beaten up and electrocuted. Some were not fed for weeks. It was hellish. Our government must strictly ensure that not another Filipino steps foot in that hell again,” Hontiveros said.