August 19, 2025,
A total of 39 human trafficking victims from Nigeria were safely repatriated to the Philippines following the directives of President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. to prioritize the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and ensure their rights are protected, especially those in a distressing situation.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), together with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), welcomed the victims at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City, who arrived via Qatar Airways flight QR932 on Monday night.
The DMW said their return was made possible through the joint efforts of the OWWA, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and other agencies under the government’s One Country Team Approach (OCTA).
“The victims were among those arrested during a large-scale Nigerian government raid in December 2024 targeting cryptocurrency and love scam operations,” the DMW said in a Facebook post.
“They were falsely promised [with] legitimate jobs as customer service representatives with a salary of USD1,000 for a six-month contract, including free board and lodging, but later forced into cyber scams and subjected to threats, withheld passports, and exploitative working conditions,” it added.
A young Filipina mother who gave birth while in detention, and was previously visited by Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac during his trip to Nigeria on Sunday, was unable to join the group as she and her baby remained under medical recovery.
The DMW said that she will be repatriated soon with her infant once given clearance to travel.
The DMW said the Philippine government secured the release of the OFWs detained at an immigration facility in Lagos, after the Philippine Embassy in Abuja and the Honorary Consulate in Lagos assisted the victims in entering a plea bargain.
Upon their arrival at the NAIA, the OWWA provided immediate support, including food packs, medical assistance, psychosocial services, temporary accommodation, and transport aid in going back to their home provinces and finally reunite with their families.
Each of the OFWs also received PHP50,000 in financial assistance from the DMW’s AKSYON Fund.
Cacdac, meanwhile, assured them of the government’s full commitment to their reintegration.
“Utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na makapagpanimula kayong muli at tungkulin namin sa DMW na paigtingin ang inyong tibay at lakas ng loob upang makapagsimulang muli (Our President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed us to ensure that you are able to start again, and it is our duty at the DMW to help and encourage you to start again),” he said.
House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (HCOWA) Chairperson Rep. Bryan Revilla, who was also present to welcome the repatriates, underscored Congress’s role in protecting OFWs.
The repatriation was a whole-of-government effort involving the DFA, DMW, OWWA, the House of Representatives, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Department of Justice (DOJ), New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
Meanwhile, the OWWA urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspected cases.
The OWWA may be reached through its 24/7 Operations Center via 1348 (Metro Manila), (02) 1348 (outside NCR), +632 1348 (overseas), Viber at +63 915 079 5005 / +63 969 169 7068 / +63 966 473 9543, WhatsApp at +63 966 473 9543, or through its official Facebook page. (PNA)