MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday confirmed the arrival of 26 Filipinos who were rescued from alleged labor trafficking activities in Malaysia.
The repatriates—nine women and 17 men—returned to the Philippines on March 16 via an AirAsia flight.
According to the BI, most of the victims admitted leaving the country through unauthorized routes, particularly along the southern maritime borders, where they were transported by boat to Malaysia without going through regular immigration checks.
BI Commissioner Joel Viado said available records show the victims’ departures occurred over a long period, ranging from 2006 to 2025.
He explained that trafficking syndicates continue to take advantage of illegal migration routes, often referred to as “backdoor” exits, to move victims abroad while bypassing official immigration controls.
The victims were eventually arrested by Malaysian immigration authorities after being found without valid documents and were detained prior to being sent back to the Philippines.
One female victim revealed that she was recruited for a restaurant job but was later pressured into prostitution.
Meanwhile, several male victims who were promised employment in the construction sector said they suffered exploitation, including withheld or reduced salaries.
elamigo/xf
