Illegal recruitment of Filipinos abroad probed

Investigations are underway to uncover the identities of those behind the illegal recruitment of Filipinos for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO)-like hubs in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

In a press briefing on Friday, DMW Undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services Bernard Olalia announced that a labor attaché will be sent to Thailand this month to coordinate with local authorities in addressing human trafficking.

“We are working to identify the perpetrators and prevent this from happening again. We also need to understand how the victims were trafficked through illegal migration corridors,” he said.

Olalia also mentioned that some overseas Filipino workers in Thailand are still awaiting repatriation, as they remain with employers after escaping exploitative conditions.

On 19 February, 12 Filipinos were repatriated from a scam center in Myanmar, where they were subjected to physical abuse after being recruited through Facebook with promises of customer service jobs.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac revealed that among the rescued individuals was an illegal recruiter posing as a victim. The recruiter has been arrested and is under investigation.

Cacdac advised Filipinos seeking jobs abroad to avoid solely online recruitment transactions, especially when communication is shifted to messaging apps like Telegram. He encouraged job seekers to verify recruitment agencies through physical offices.