Following yesterday’s welfare visit and today’s decision of the Prosecutor’s Office in Johor, the eight Filipino crew members of vessel MT Krishna 1 detained in Kota Tinggi have been released today, 18 April 2025.

In a video call, Labor Attaché Jocelyn Ortega of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW)-Migrant Workers’ Office in Malaysia reported to DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac the good news about the release of the 8 Filseafarers.

"We emphasize the continuing directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to protect the rights and welfare of OFWs, and implore the significance of the release during the Holy Week,” asserted Secretary Cacdac. The Migrant Workers Chief likewise acknowledged the leadership and support of DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo and PHL Ambassador to Malaysia Maria Angela Ponce, that led to the immediate action of the DMW-MWO-OWWA in Kuala Lumpur headed by Labor Attaché Ortega.

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   Keeping with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.‘s directive to protect the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against illegal recruiters and syndicates, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday closed down another travel agency for illegally recruiting Filipino factory workers to Bulgaria.

Keeping with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.‘s directive to protect the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against illegal recruiters and syndicates, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday closed down another travel agency for illegally recruiting Filipino factory workers to Bulgaria.

This is the 9th establishment closed by the department for 2025 and targeting more this year to protect the workers from illegal recruiters.

“May mga sinarado na tayong training centers, visa travel consultancy business entities, marami na tayong sinarado. Pang siyam na itong sinarado natin ngayong taon at hindi kami titigil sa mga susunod pang araw. Patuloy po ang surveillance both actual physical and online at hindi po tayo titigil hangga’t hindi po natin nahahalughog lahat ng mga illegal recruiters,” said Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia, who led the closure operations.

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   Thirty Filipino victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking in Myanmar were safely repatriated by the Philippine government and are now being assisted by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for all the necessary assistance and support they need.

The victims safely arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City on 25 March 2025 via PAL PR 0733 through the joint efforts of the Philippine Embassy, Office of the Police Attaché, and Migrant Workers Office in Bangkok.

Upon their arrival, the victims were given immediate assistance, including psychosocial services, financial aid, and legal aid from a whole-of-government team composed of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the DMW, the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Department of Justice (DoJ), and the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIA-TFAT).

Each victim also received Php 50,000 in financial assistance from the DMW’s AKSYON Fund and Php 10,000 from OWWA.

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