PNP checks reports of Filipinos held in Myanmar scam hubs – verification is still ongoing

Inquirer reported that the PNP is checking reports on 1,500 Filipinos trapped in Myanmar scam hubs. Other reports describe up to 1,500 Filipinos as allegedly held captive there. These are still allegations, and the sources do not confirm the exact figure.

Some of the reports also claim that certain people were beaten for seeking help. Those claims are not yet confirmed, and the sources do not say who was responsible.

Warnings and cases already on record

This is not the first time the issue has been raised. Earlier, Pinoy jobseekers were warned against illegal scam hubs in Myanmar and Cambodia, based on a report from balita.com.

Separately, GMA Network reported that the DMW hopes for a strong ASEAN declaration on safe recruitment amid the scam hubs. That shows the concern is also being discussed at a regional level.

Philstar.com has also reported that 28 Pinoys in Cambodia face felony charges. The sources do not say how those cases connect to the reports in Myanmar, so readers should treat the two separately.

What happens next is not yet known. The sources do not say what the verification will find, how long it will take, or what steps will follow once the reports are checked.

For now, the best advice is to stay alert. Have you or someone you know ever been offered an overseas job that felt too good to be true? How would you check it before saying yes?