Government has intensified rescue and repatriation efforts for more than a hundred Filipino trafficking victims reportedly trapped in scam centers in various countries in Southeast Asia.

This developed as authorities warned Filipinos against getting entangled in the operation of scam centers. Aside from violating laws in the country where they operate, they are also susceptible to various kinds of abuse, it was revealed.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has disclosed that they have identified 118 Filipinos who need immediate repatriation as of July 7. These include 70 in Myanmar, 30 in Thailand, seven in Laos and 6 in Cambodia.

At least 14 of them, all in Myanmar, are set for transfer, the DFA said.

“We remain committed to the rescue and repatriation of all Filipino HTVs (human trafficking victims) that are working in illegal call centers in the region. We call on our kababayans, including our Filipino communities abroad, to support all efforts to prevent all modes of recruitment and victimization of our Filipino nationals in schemes that lead to forced criminality and participation in scamming operations,” the DFA said.

Human trafficking operations in the Philippines appeared to have increased following the government’s shutdown of operations of POGO operations here.

The DFA re;ported that it has responded to 480 trafficking-related-assistance-to-nationals (ATN) cases in the region.

Among these cases were 304 in Thailand, 110 in Cambodia, 61 in Laos and five in Myanmar.