The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) warned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and overseas job applicants about fraudulent job offers that could lead to illegal recruitment, human trafficking, forced labor, or forced criminal activity.
DMW Undersecretary Darlene Pajarito said the agency assisted in the repatriation of 1,293 Filipino trafficking victims from January to July 2026. Of these, 1,154, or about 89 percent, were reportedly victims of forced criminality, while 126 were victims of forced labor.
“A lot of those cases involve trafficking for forced criminality. And most of our victims are trafficked in those countries, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Malaysia. Of course, there are other countries, but these are the countries with the highest number of Filipinos identified as victims of trafficking,” Pajarito said.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Jinky P. Dedumo, head of the Department of Justice’s NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking, reported in her message during the DMW’s Flag Raising Ceremony that Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and Malaysia were among the destinations for passengers who were monitored after being deferred from departure.
From January to July 2026, Russia, Cambodia, and Malaysia reportedly recorded the highest numbers of passengers deferred from departing.
The DMW said that many identified trafficking victims came from Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. While many departed through Ninoy Aquino International Airport, others reportedly used irregular departure routes.
Pajarito said the DMW is coordinating with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking to strengthen monitoring and enforcement against irregular routes to and from Zamboanga, Tawi-Tawi, Jolo, and Palawan. The agencies are also addressing recruitment schemes that route Filipino workers through third countries.
The DMW continues to coordinate with IACAT member agencies to monitor cases, assist victims of trafficking and illegal recruitment, and arrange their repatriation.
Original Article: https://dmw.gov.ph/news-releases/news-release-606857
