Thirty-nine (39) Filipinos who were victims of human trafficking in Lagos, Nigeria have finally arrived back home in the Philippines on Monday, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
When they landed at NAIA Terminal 3, they were personally welcomed by DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and HCOWA Chairperson Rep. Bryan Revilla. The officials assured them that the government, under the orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will give them full support after the painful experience they went through.
✈️ Their Return Home
These Filipinos had been trapped abroad under false promises of jobs but instead became victims of traffickers. After months of struggle, they are now home and safe.
The government promised them:
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Immediate financial assistance from the DMW AKSYON Fund
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Temporary shelter and food
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Free transportation so they can go back to their home provinces
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Continued government support to help them start fresh
⚠️ Warning to All Filipinos
The DMW reminded the public to be very careful about both face-to-face and online job offers. Many traffickers and illegal recruiters use tricks that sound exciting but are really traps.
🚩 Red flags to watch out for:
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Jobs that sound “too good to be true”
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Using backdoor exit points instead of legal airports
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Fake or suspicious documents
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Recruiters who can’t show proper licenses
DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara warned that these scams are run by illegal syndicates who are experts at lying to desperate workers.
🌍 A Bigger Problem
Sadly, this is not the first case. Between July 31 and August 9, about 120 Filipinos trafficked in Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia were also rescued and flown back home.
Because of the growing cases, the DMW announced that they will soon open a new Migrant Workers Office in Abuja, Nigeria. This will:
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Give faster help to OFWs in trouble
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Offer legal and welfare support
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Make it easier to work with host governments and employers
👉 This dramatic rescue shows the danger of illegal recruitment and the painful struggle of trafficking victims. But it also shows the government’s promise of protection—making sure our kababayans are never left alone in times of need.
