Myanmar detains 8 Filipinos for crossing border

Map of Myanmar / STOCK

Myanmar authorities detained eight Filipinos for illegally entering the country from Thailand on Jan. 17. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Myanmar authorities promised to hasten the Filipinos’ repatriation after one of them, a 25-year-old woman who had been touring Thailand since December, said she and her companions did not realize it was prohibited for foreigners to cross the Thailand-Myanmar border via a boat ride from Mae Sot City in Thailand to Myawaddy, Myanmar. Foreigners are only allowed to enter Myanmar through Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw airports. DFA spokesperson Tessie Daza said embassy officials were prevented from entering the area because of the insurgency in the area. —JACOB LAZARO