The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has taken down more than 70,000 social media accounts involved in illegal online recruitment operations targeting Filipinos for scam hubs in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.
In a press briefing on Monday, October 27, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said that the figure includes posts and accounts removed from Facebook and TikTok as part of the government’s crackdown on online recruitment scams.
“As of today, more than 70,000 na po ‘yong posts na ating na-request for takedown, combined from TikTok and Facebook na na-takedown natin,” Olalia said.
He added that the DMW has established a 24/7 active online surveillance system to monitor and track illegal recruitment activities across Asia.
“There is an ongoing 24/7 active online surveillance, mayroon tayong dedicated office and staff na tumitingin po sa lahat, online. Kapag nakita natin na ‘yong ino-offer nila na employment opportunities pertains to these scam hubs sa Asia, we request for an active takedown,” he explained.
Olalia also revealed that the DMW and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are conducting a joint investigation amid reports of alleged BI personnel involvement in these illegal recruitment activities.
Meanwhile, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the agency is monitoring rescue operations involving Filipinos trapped in scam hubs in Myanmar, expecting the number of rescued individuals to rise.
“We are still confirming the exact number non’g lumabas mula sa KK Park in light of the operations. Pero hindi natin inaasahan na malalayo na sa pigurang, maybe, around, 200 to 300 ito. Inaalam pa natin ‘yong exact numbers nila,” Cacdac said.
In a related update, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that 222 Filipinos have sought repatriation assistance from scam compounds in Myanmar — 66 have already crossed into Thailand, while nine have been brought to Yangon and are now under the care of the Philippine Embassy.