MANILA, Philippines, Nov 27, (Agencies): The Bureau of Immigration (BI) issued a warning on Monday, Nov 27, advising Filipinos against seeking employment in Myanmar. This caution extends beyond the ongoing civil war, encompassing rampant cases of human trafficking as well.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco emphasized that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has categorized Myanmar's conflict as Crisis Alert Level 2, also known as the Restricted Phase. Tansingco highlighted that, under these circumstances, only documented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are permitted to travel to Myanmar, subject to strict protocols and safeguards.

Addressing the prevalent issue of human trafficking, Tansingco disclosed that on Nov 21, four Filipinos were repatriated from Myanmar after falling victim to illegal recruitment. These individuals, whose identities were withheld, initially departed from the Philippines under the guise of tourists but were later lured by foreign acquaintances to work in various positions in Myanmar.

According to Tansingco, two victims shared that they were recruited through a job posting on Facebook, supposedly for customer service roles in Myanmar. However, upon arrival, they were coerced into participating in online scamming activities for an undisclosed Chinese company, enduring both physical abuse and substandard working conditions.

Expressing concern, Tansingco remarked, "Illegal recruitment not only violates our laws but also undermines the rights and welfare of Filipino workers." He urged aspiring OFWs to verify the legitimacy of job offers, ensure proper documentation, and seek guidance from licensed recruitment agencies before pursuing opportunities abroad.