MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) continues to repatriate Filipinos who were victims of illegal trafficking in Southeast Asia.
“This includes the situation in Myanmar, where the DFA is coordinating with local law enforcement officials for the repatriation of a number of Filipinos who were rescued by Myanmar authorities from their worksites in Myawaddy,” the DFA in a statement issued on Monday.
The DFA is also already working on the repatriation of Kiela Samson, a Filipino tourist who was reportedly detained in Myawaddy in Myanmar, according to her family.
Her family is now coordinating with the Philippine embassy in Yangon City.
In an interview over ANC, the Samson family said that Kiela flew to Thailand as a tourist before she was offered to board a boat that took her to Myawaddy, where she ended up getting arrested and detained.
The DFA reminded Filipinos who wish to work abroad to follow the government’s regulations in registering as overseas workers.
“Recruiters who promise Filipinos jobs abroad, if they pretend to be tourists and evade our controls, are just leading our kababayans to dangerous situations where it may be very difficult to secure their safety and assist them in returning home,” it said.