By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – Twenty-six Filipinos rescued from labor trafficking in Malaysia arrived in the country this week, the Bureau of Immigration said Friday.
The batch of repatriates, consisting of nine females and 17 males, arrived on March 16 via an AirAsia flight.
The BI, in a news release, said majority of the repatriates disclosed that they departed the country through illegal “backdoor” routes, particularly via southern borders, where they were clandestinely transported by boat to Malaysia.
BI Commissioner Joel Viado said records show that the victims’ departures spanned nearly two decades, from as early as 2006 up to 2025.
He said the BI continues to observe a pattern of trafficking syndicates exploiting illegal migration corridors or typically known as “backdoor” exits to transport victims out of the country and circumvent established immigration controls.
“These victims were apprehended by Malaysian immigration authorities due to their undocumented status. Most were detained prior to their repatriation,” Viado added.
One female victim recounted that she was initially recruited to work as a waitress but was later coerced into engaging in sex work.
Meanwhile, several male victims who were recruited to work in construction reported experiencing maltreatment, including non-payment or underpayment of wages. (PNA)
