Latest news with #Manalili
GMA Network
4 days ago
- GMA Network
DFA: Undetermined number of Pinoys still trapped in SE Asia scam centers
An undetermined number of Filipinos remain trapped in various scam farms across Southeast Asia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday as it assured that government efforts to free them are underway. "The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs continues to receive reports of alleged Filipino human trafficking victims still trapped inside different scam centers in Southeast Asia," the DFA said. Meanwhile, the DFA called on relatives of Filipinos who may be employed in underground scam hubs operating mainly in the border in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia to come forward and provide verified information on their family member. "We remain committed to the rescue and repatriation of all Filipino that are working in illegal call centers in the region," added the DFA. Traffickers in the past three years have exploited Filipinos and other nationals in forced labor in online scam operation facilities, which have expanded rapidly in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Hannah Lizette Manalili, executive director of the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking, on Tuesday urged Southeast Asian countries to do more to combat the rise of trafficking of individuals who are being recruited illegally to work in scam farms and enhance a regional exchange of information to effectively address the problem. ASEAN groups the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. The Philippines has been identified as a source country for gambling and crime-related human trafficking in Southeast Asia, according to Manalili, but he said the government is actively taking steps to curb the problem. The DFA said it has instructed its diplomatic posts within the ASEAN region to "devote efforts and resources in extending all possible assistance" to distressed people while closely engaging concerned authorities of their host countries for their cooperation. "We call on all our kababayans, including our Filipino communities abroad, to support all efforts to prevent all modes of recruitment and victimization of our Filipino nationals in schemes that lead to forced criminality and participation in scamming operations," the DFA said. The United Nations has expressed alarm over the thousands of trafficked individuals in the region, saying the situation has 'reached the level of a humanitarian and human rights crisis.' UN human rights rapporteurs Tomoya Obokata, Siobhán Mullally, and Vitit Muntarbhorn in their report released in May found that thousands of released victims remain stranded in inhumane conditions at the Myanmar-Thailand border. In the same month, Philippine officials were able to safely bring home over 200 Filipino alleged human trafficking victims from illegal scam centers in Myawaddy, Myanmar. Many victims of scam farm operations who were initially promised legal jobs are kidnapped and sold to other fraudulent operations, the UN rapporteurs said. The DFA advised all Filipinos to go through proper foreign employment procedures established by the Department of Migrant Workers before departing the country for overseas employment. —VAL, GMA Integrated News Filipinos may reach out to the Philippine Embassies in Yangon and Bangkok through the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) hotline +95 998 521 0991, email at or through the official Philippine Embassy in Myanmar Facebook Messenger, and Bangkok's ATN hotline +66 81989 7116 or email through
GMA Network
5 days ago
- GMA Network
PH calls on SE Asian neighbors to do more to address online scam trafficking
Southeast Asian countries should do more to combat the rise of trafficking of individuals who are recruited illegally to work in scam farms and enhance a regional exchange of information to effectively address the problem, a Philippine official said Tuesday. Traffickers in the past few years have exploited Filipinos and other nationals in forced labor in so-called online scam operations that have expanded mainly in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. But to respond to the emerging trends and issues, Manila's neighbors must also 'take corresponding action on their end too.' 'Let's be honest here. We cannot reach that point unless each of the ASEAN member nations have fully equipped themselves at the national level,' said Hannah Lizette Manalili, executive director of the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking, at a forum hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). ASEAN groups include the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The Philippines has been identified as a source country for gambling and crime-related human trafficking in Southeast Asia, according to Manalili, but assured that government efforts are underway to curb the problem. 'Initially the Philippines has been identified as a source country. This meant that our Filipino nationals are looking for opportunities outside the Philippines and they fall prey to become victims of these scam hubs located outside the Philippines,' she said. The United Nations has expressed alarm over the rise of thousands of trafficked individuals in the region, saying the situation has 'reached the level of a humanitarian and human rights crisis.' UN human rights rapporteurs Tomoya Obokata, Siobhán Mullally and Vitit Muntarbhorn in their report released in May found that thousands of released victims remain stranded in inhumane conditions at the Myanmar-Thailand border. On the same month, Philippine officials were able to safely bring home over 200 Filipino alleged human trafficking victims from illegal scam centers in Myawaddy, Myanmar. Many victims of scam farm operations, who were initially promised legal jobs, are kidnapped and sold to do other fraudulent operations, the UN rapporteurs said. 'When we are exchanging information, we become more aware of the circumstances that are dealt with and faced with not only by our own country but by our neighboring countries. And that's where real cooperation begins,' Manalili said. Limited resources and technology to track the movement of trafficked persons have constrained efforts by the Philippines and other ASEAN nations to curb trafficking, she admitted. But such challenges further highlight the need to sustain networks and partnerships across the region, said Manalili. 'Our strength lies in the capability of our human resources, our resilience and strong will, and our strong sense of community and partnership and networking,' she said. However, the burden to deal with this issue 'should not only be carried by the source country or the destination country,' but 'has to work from end to end for us to combat it.' The Philippines, for example, has been holding country-to-country specific dialogues, knowledge exchange, and enhancing the capability of its diplomatic posts in the region to expand awareness and capacity across frontliners and its key partners. 'If the perpetrators are cutting across borders, then so must we. We must not fight this alone as just Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, we have to fight this as a region,' she said. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
19-05-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
FilOil: Jonathan Manalili carries Letran to 14-point comeback win vs. Arellano
Jonathan Manalili may have just offered a preview of what's to come for Colegio de San Juan de Letran under his leadership as he steered the Knights to a 72-68 escape against Arellano University in the 18th Filoil Preseason Cup on Sunday. The flashy young guard helped Letran overcome a 14-point deficit to stun the Chiefs, posting 21 points on a near-perfect 7-of-8 shooting from the field. The Letran homegrown product also dished out seven assists, grabbed three rebounds, and had one steal. Some other of the Knights' new recruits also proved their worth with transferee Jun Roque churning out 14 markers, five boards, three dimes, three steals, and one block while Aaron Buensalida and Mark Denver Omega chipped in with nine and eight points. Letran got off to a shaky start with Arellano building a 44-30 lead in the second period after a pair of charities from Dre Miller. The Knights, who are out for redemption after missing back-to-back Final Four appearances in the NCAA, made a brief run to end the halftime trailing by five, 39-44. Arellano, though, lit up from downtown in the fourth after King Maverick Vinoya and Renzo Abiera knocked down a triple each to send the Chiefs to a 66-58 cushion. Letran responded with an 8-0 blast capped by a Deo Cuajao jumper as the Knights forced a 66-all deadlock with 3:30 to go in the game. Manalili, who once steered the Letran Squires to back-to-back NCAA juniors titles, then took care of business the rest of the way. He first sank two free throws before igniting for a huge three-pointer that made it a 71-66 advantage for the wards of head coach Allen Ricardo. T-Mc Ongotan gave Arellano some hopes after converting a quick layup, but his foul on Manalili ultimately sealed the win for Letran as the latter split from the line to complete the come-from-behind victory. The scores: Letran 72 - Manalli 21, Roque 14, Buensalida 9, Omega 8, Cuajao 8, Silorio 5, Tapenio 4, Rosilio 2, Yusi 1, Nunag 0, Santos 0, Montecillo 0, Muyuela 0, Estil 0, Baliling 0. Arellano 68 - Cabotaje 13, Ongotan 11, Abiera 10, Vinoya 10, Valencia 6, Hemal 5, Miller 4, Borromeo 3, Geronimo 2, Langit 2, Anama 2, Camay 0, Buenaventura 0, Demetria 0, Libang 0. Quarters: 24-25, 38-44, 53-60, 72-68. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
