The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday reminded the alleged victims of the Italy-based immigration consultancy firm Alpha Assistenza SRL to sign a confidentiality agreement only with the lawyer hired by the government.

Alpha Assistenza SRL allegedly duped over 400 Filipinos who had paid exorbitant fees for relatives in the Philippines to secure what later turned out to be non-existent jobs in Italy.

In a Viber message, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said the confidentiality agreement should only be between the victims and Italian lawyer Bruno de Blasi.

"There was the idea of a separate confidentiality agreement with the consulate, but I told him no," De Vega told DAILY TRIBUNE, referring to Philippine Consul General in Milan Elmer Cato.

"Any written agreement should only be with the lawyer," he added.

Several victims took to TRIBUNE's "Usapang OFW" to air their complaints about a supposed confidentiality agreement purportedly initiated by the Philippine consulate in Milan.

The victims alleged that the consulate under Cato had forced them to sign a confidentiality agreement that prohibited them from divulging information related to the case to a third party or the media.

They were told that signing the document was a requirement to receive consulate assistance.

The DAILY TRIBUNE contacted the Milan consulate and Cato on 21 November but did not reply.