The Department of Migrant Workers has intensified efforts to combat human trafficking and scam hubs targeting overseas Filipino workers, as authorities ramp up rescue and enforcement operations.
DMW Undersecretary Darlene Pajarito said the government is adopting a whole-of-government approach focused on victim protection, rescue, and prosecution of traffickers.
“Across government, our focus is on supporting the victims, many of whom are migrant workers,” she said, noting coordination with the Department of Justice and the Public Attorney’s Office to provide legal assistance.
Pajarito warned of emerging tactics such as “criminal displacement,” where traffickers move victims across borders to evade law enforcement, with patterns observed in countries like Cambodia and Vietnam.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the government is taking decisive action through intensified coordination with law enforcement agencies and international partners.
“We are working closely with the Department of Justice, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, the Philippine National Police, and the National Bureau of Investigation,” Cacdac said.
He added that the DMW has conducted entrapment operations, including at airports, and deployed labor attachés and rapid response teams in key hubs such as Bangkok and Phnom Penh to strengthen coordination and ensure immediate assistance to affected OFWs.
