Over 200 Filipinos in Myanmar seek repatriation after massive scam hub raid

National

MORE than 200 Filipino nationals are pleading for government help to return home following a sweeping military raid that disrupted one of the country’s biggest cybercrime operations.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), at least 222 Filipinos have filed formal requests for repatriation as of October 24.

Many of them had reportedly been forced into online scamming activities after being lured by fraudulent job offers promising high salaries and safe working conditions.

The Philippine Embassy in Yangon confirmed that 66 Filipinos managed to cross the border into Thailand, where they are awaiting processing, while nine others are now under the direct care of the embassy in Myanmar’s capital.

The remaining individuals are believed to be scattered in various holding camps or still trapped inside the so-called “scam hub” compounds.

The DFA assured that it is working closely with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other agencies to expedite their safe return.

“The Department remains committed to ensuring the protection and repatriation of affected Filipinos through established government-to-government channels,” the DFA said in a statement.

The agency added that talks with Myanmar and Thai authorities are ongoing to finalize deportation procedures for Filipinos currently under local custody.

Embassy personnel are also coordinating with local law enforcement to locate and rescue those still inside heavily guarded scam centers.

The situation escalated earlier this month after Myanmar’s military raided KK Park, a large and well-documented cybercrime complex near Myawaddy, a border town known for housing thousands of foreign nationals forced into online fraud operations.

The raid reportedly led to the arrest of hundreds of individuals, including foreign workers coerced into scamming schemes.

The Global New Light of Myanmar, a state-run newspaper, reported that the raid was part of a broader campaign to suppress cross-border crimes, including online financial fraud, human trafficking, and illegal gambling.

Authorities said the crackdown will continue in areas where similar compounds operate.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy said it remains on high alert and continues to monitor developments in Myawaddy and nearby areas, particularly after the series of military operations conducted on October 20.

Filipinos still trapped in scam hubs or those with family members in Myanmar are urged to contact the Philippine Embassy in Yangon for immediate assistance.

The embassy can be reached through its 24-hour hotlines at +959985210993, +959985210998, +959409883434 (Viber), or +959985210996, and through email at [email protected].(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)