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BI Chief Lauds Arrest Of Two Traffickers Behind Myanmar Scam Hubs
Photo credit: BI
The crackdown on human traffickers continues as two individuals involved in recruiting Filipinos for scam hubs in Myanmar were arrested, a move that Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado hailed as a significant win against illegal recruitment and modern slavery.
Viado confirmed reports that operatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had taken down two suspects allegedly responsible for luring victims with fake job offers, only to send them to scam centers where they faced abuse and torture.
The Arrests: ‘Fiona’ and ‘Jon Jon’
One of the suspects, known as alias ‘Fiona’, was caught in Zamboanga after being identified by victims as a key player in facilitating illegal exits via backdoor routes. She allegedly convinced Filipinos to leave the country illegally, promising them customer service jobs abroad.
Meanwhile, alias ‘Jon Jon’, who was repatriated from Myanmar on March 26, was exposed by his fellow victims as one of the recruiters. He initially claimed to be a victim himself, but later, multiple survivors revealed that he was actually part of the network that tricked Filipinos into flying to Thailand—only to smuggle them into Myanmar, where they were forced to work in scam hubs under inhumane conditions.
206 Trafficked Filipinos Rescued
These arrests come after the repatriation of 206 human trafficking victims from Myanmar on March 25-26, thanks to the efforts of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). The victims shared heartbreaking stories of deception, abuse, and forced labor.
Viado revealed alarming details about their departure:
• 136 victims pretended to be regular tourists.
• 5 left as a “family” while 14 posed as “spouses” to evade scrutiny.
• 15 were legitimate OFWs but were later transferred illegally to Myanmar.
• 55 had no official travel records, meaning they likely left through illegal channels.
BI’s Commitment to Fight Human Trafficking
Commissioner Viado underscored the need for a whole-of-government approach to stop these illegal schemes, emphasizing that traffickers continue to exploit Filipinos looking for better opportunities abroad.
“This is a problem of migrant workers being lured by false promises, with all of them leaving under false pretenses or via illegal means,” Viado said. “As a member-agency of the IACAT, we vow to continue doing our share to protect our kababayan from being victimized.”
With these arrests, authorities are sending a clear message: The fight against human trafficking is far from over, and the government is determined to bring perpetrators to justice.
Viado confirmed reports that operatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had taken down two suspects allegedly responsible for luring victims with fake job offers, only to send them to scam centers where they faced abuse and torture.
The Arrests: ‘Fiona’ and ‘Jon Jon’
One of the suspects, known as alias ‘Fiona’, was caught in Zamboanga after being identified by victims as a key player in facilitating illegal exits via backdoor routes. She allegedly convinced Filipinos to leave the country illegally, promising them customer service jobs abroad.
Meanwhile, alias ‘Jon Jon’, who was repatriated from Myanmar on March 26, was exposed by his fellow victims as one of the recruiters. He initially claimed to be a victim himself, but later, multiple survivors revealed that he was actually part of the network that tricked Filipinos into flying to Thailand—only to smuggle them into Myanmar, where they were forced to work in scam hubs under inhumane conditions.
206 Trafficked Filipinos Rescued
These arrests come after the repatriation of 206 human trafficking victims from Myanmar on March 25-26, thanks to the efforts of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). The victims shared heartbreaking stories of deception, abuse, and forced labor.
Viado revealed alarming details about their departure:
• 136 victims pretended to be regular tourists.
• 5 left as a “family” while 14 posed as “spouses” to evade scrutiny.
• 15 were legitimate OFWs but were later transferred illegally to Myanmar.
• 55 had no official travel records, meaning they likely left through illegal channels.
BI’s Commitment to Fight Human Trafficking
Commissioner Viado underscored the need for a whole-of-government approach to stop these illegal schemes, emphasizing that traffickers continue to exploit Filipinos looking for better opportunities abroad.
“This is a problem of migrant workers being lured by false promises, with all of them leaving under false pretenses or via illegal means,” Viado said. “As a member-agency of the IACAT, we vow to continue doing our share to protect our kababayan from being victimized.”
With these arrests, authorities are sending a clear message: The fight against human trafficking is far from over, and the government is determined to bring perpetrators to justice.
Mar 28, 2025
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