By Ariel Fernandez
Twenty-two Filipino victims of human trafficking in Cambodia returned home on Wednesday morning, June 10, arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 from Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh.
They traveled aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 2622, accompanied by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Felicitas Q. Bay, and were welcomed by DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara along with teams from the agency, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking.
Upon arrival, the repatriates underwent medical assessments and received assistance from the NAIA medical team.
OWWA provided transportation and temporary accommodations, while the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking pledged legal support.
Financial and welfare aid will also be extended to help them recover and reintegrate.
The repatriation was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the DMW Rapid Response Team in Cambodia, the Migrant Workers Office in Singapore, and the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh.
Authorities said the operation underscores the government’s continuing commitment to protect overseas Filipinos and ensure the safe return of those in distress.
