MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros personally greeted over 100 Filipinos in Manila on Wednesday, March 26, following their rescue from scam compounds in Myanmar.

The repatriates, victims of human trafficking, endured extreme abuse at the hands of foreign crime syndicates operating scam hubs in the region. Hontiveros expressed both relief and outrage over their ordeal.

“Salamat sa Diyos at nakauwi na ang mga kababayan natin. Kahit masaya tayo na nasa Pilipinas na sila, sobrang nakakagalit ang mga naranasan nila sa kamay ng mga Chinese scam bosses sa Myanmar,” she said.

The senator, joined by Akbayan Partylist nominee Atty. Chel Diokno, spoke with some of the repatriates who had reached out to them for rescue. Survivors recounted harrowing experiences, including torture, rape, and other forms of violence.

“May babaeng ginahasa, may buntis na binugbog at kinuryente, may mga hindi pinakain ng ilang linggo. Para silang nasa impyerno. Our government must strictly ensure that not another Filipino steps foot in that hell again,” Hontiveros emphasized.

Calling for stronger international cooperation against transnational criminal syndicates, the senator urged global leaders to take decisive action.

“The Philippine government cannot do this alone. Governments and international bodies must collectively work together to keep our citizens safe,” she said.

Hontiveros has been at the forefront of Senate inquiries into human trafficking linked to scam operations since 2022, following the rescue of trafficked Filipino nationals in Myanmar. Despite previous efforts, she lamented that Filipinos continue to fall victim to these schemes.

“Tatlong taon na mula nung naibunyag natin ang karumal-dumal na kalakarang ito pero hanggang ngayon may mga Pilipino pa rin daw na napupunta sa mga scam compounds. Banned nga ang mga POGO na ginagawang scam hubs sa Pinas, pero sa ibang bansa naman ay tuloy-tuloy pa. Kaya panawagan ko po sa mga kababayan natin na wag basta-basta maniwala sa mga travel ads o job ads papuntang Thailand, Cambodia, o Myanmar na nakikita sa social media. Maging mapanuri at mapagmatyag,” she warned.

She also called for continued government support for the rescued Filipinos, highlighting the need for psychological intervention and reintegration programs.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa DMW, OWWA, at DFA sa pagpupursige para mapauwing ligtas ang mga kababayan natin. I hope that the victim-survivors be given the proper psychosocial intervention dahil ibang klase ang trauma nila. Dapat din maisali sila sa mga reintegration programs para tuluyang makabangon muli,” she concluded.

📷 Sen. Risa Hontiveros FB, Akbayan Party-list FB