Five Filipino women, alleged victims of a human trafficking syndicate, have returned home after being detained for three months in Malaysia, the Bureau of Immigration said.
The women were held in Malaysia for being undocumented overseas workers, according to Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
The victims who were not identified were allegedly recruited to be waitresses through a Facebook post.
According to the victims,, they separately departed for Kota Kinabalu via a ferry from Zamboanga, evading immigration inspection. Their passports were allegedly not processed formally during departure.
Tansingco expressed alarm over the incident, highlighting the consequences of undocumented travel and the exploitation that can occur abroad.
“The victims’ ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in pursuing opportunities without proper documentation,” he said.
“It not only jeopardizes individuals’ rights and well-being while abroad, but also contributes to the prevalence of human trafficking,” he added.
Upon arrival, the women were assisted by officials from the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking.