Nearly 200 Filipinos have been rescued from dangerous scam hubs in Myanmar, but many are still trapped, enduring horrific abuse as they beg for help.
One of them is Myrna (not her real name), who managed to send a desperate message to her family despite being closely watched by her captors. She secretly sent photos of her bruises and wounds along with a short video, exposing the severe punishments inflicted on those who fail to meet scam quotas.
“Sana po masagip niyo po kami dito kasi hindi na po namin kaya. Pinaparusahan po kami kapag wala kaming naipapasok na pera.”
(Please rescue us. We can’t take it anymore. They punish us when we fail to bring in money.)
Trapped in the Middle of Nowhere
Myrna also revealed that she and the other victims don’t even know where they are.
“Nasa gitna po kami ng bundok, hindi po namin alam kung nasaan kami.”
(We are in the middle of the mountains. We have no idea where we are.)
Her family was shocked when she finally managed to send a message. They had believed she was working in Hong Kong, but months later, they discovered the truth—she was in Myanmar, trapped in a scam operation.
“Nagulat na lang po kami… ang sabi po niya, andun daw siya sa Myanmar.”
(We were shocked… she told us she was in Myanmar.)
Myrna was able to send secret messages using a computer inside the scam facility.
Government Efforts to Rescue Trapped Filipinos
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) are now working to rescue Myrna and the other Filipinos still trapped.
DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs Eduardo de Vega assured that they are coordinating with Myanmar authorities, but the situation is difficult because some areas in Myanmar are controlled by rebel groups, making rescues even more dangerous.
“We’ll get their identities and solicit Myanmar’s support… kahit hindi controlled, they’re bound to make ways to extricate them.”
A Warning to Job Seekers
The DFA and DMW continue to warn Filipinos against suspicious overseas job offers, especially in countries with visa-free entry for Filipinos. Many trafficking victims believed they were getting legitimate jobs, only to end up trapped in scam syndicates.
Authorities are urging everyone to be extra cautious and verify job offers before accepting them.
As of now, many Filipinos remain trapped in Myanmar, suffering in horrible conditions—waiting, hoping someone will save them before it’s too late. 
