Suspected Filipino trafficking victims intercepted in Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand – A suspected Filipino human trafficking victim (HTV) who posed as a tourist bound for Myanmar was stopped by the Royal Thai Immigration Police with assistance from Col. Dominador Matalang of the Philippine Embassy’s Office of the Police Attache on Saturday, February 22. 

The suspected HTV, “Robert” (not his real name) travelled via the back door , from Tawi-Tawi to Sabah, Penang, Hatyai and Don Mueang Airport

He was supposed to stay in Bangkok for a couple of days before his flight to Yangon, Myanmar.

Upon arrival  in Bangkok, Matalang informed the Royal Thai Immigration Police to hold him.

“Robert was stopped at the airport with the assistance of the Royal Thai Immigration. Initially, he claimed he was bound for Dubai, but I explained to him that his exit stamps both in the Philippines and Malaysia are fake,” Matalang said.

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Despite his violations, “Robert” was not deported. 

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Instead, the Royal Thai Immigration Police covered his airfare for his return to the Philippines on Sunday, February 23. 

He was not charged with a fraudulent exit and entry, a crime in Thailand that carries a three-year prison sentence.

According to Matalang, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) will update Robert’s situation upon arrival in the Philippines.

More suspected HTVs

Also on Saturday, three Filipinas believed to be HTVs were apprehended with an alleged Taiwanese criminal, identified as Lee Jun Min or Lee Jun Chung at Singburi Province while en route to Bangkok. 

The group was tracked down after escaping by car from Myanmar to Tak province during the intense rescue operations by Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Thai Royal Police forces. 

Upon their arrest, the Royal Thai Police found a hand grenade, and various illegal drugs concealed inside a cloth doll, as well as in the Taiwanese suspect’s pockets. 

The Taiwanese does not have a passport and is believed to have undergone plastic surgery to avoid detection.

The alleged Taiwanese crime boss after surgery. (Photo from Colonel Dominador Matalang)

Meanwhile, the three Filipinas were identified as Erica Valenzuela, Rosalee De Guzman, and Dianne Louise Defensor. 

Valenzuela and De Guzman arrived in Thailand on July 21, 2023. 

The Royal Thai Police will determine whether they are victims of human trafficking 

Myanmar scan hubs

The Thai government has already imposed sanctions on Myawaddy. Starting the last week of January, power, fuel, and internet were cut off to five communities in Tachileik, Myawaddy, and Payathonzu border regions of Myanmar, in their effort to stop the operations of scam centers. 

In response to the sanctions, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), an ally of Myanmar’s government, and the Border Guard Force (BGF), a sub-division of Tatmadaw or Myanmar Armed Forces have been assisting the rescue of foreign workers escaping in scam centers in Myawaddy.

On February 12, 261 foreign nationals were released from Myanmar and handed over to the Thai authorities. 

Sixteen Filipinos were already repatriated to the Philippines, while the three others are still in a counseling center in Chiangrai, Thailand awaiting their flights back to the Philippines next week.

According to Matalang, there are still approximately 500 Filipinos trapped in scam centers in Myanmar. 

Despite the intense campaign against trafficking, Filipinos continue to arrive in Myanmar, lured by promises of high-paying jobs, onlyto  end up as scammers. 

Former HTVs also claimed that there are 17 Filipinas who arrived in December via the ‘legal’ route. 

They claimed they have a contact at the Bureau of Immigration in NAIA. 

Among all the interviewed Filipinos trafficked to Myanmar also claimed that certain immigration officials at NAIA did not ask them any questions or request their documents. 

On February 4, two Filipino women arrived in Thailand holding a business visa for Myanmar. 

While still in Maesot, Colonel Matalang tried to dissuade them from traveling to Myanmar to no avail. 

On February 8, they ended up in Myawaddy, working in scam centers. 

As of this report, they are requesting rescue.

Matalang has been urging the Philippine government to increase awareness about human trafficking by posting warnings and conducting information campaigns especially at airports and sea ports nationwide.

“I hope the government will also use social media in the campaign against human trafficking because Facebook and Tiktok are popular platforms that are accessible to many people,” he said.

According to sources, the scam centers that have been raided represent only a small fraction of the scamming syndicates operating in Myanmar.