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Posts tagged as “illegal recruitment”

DMW and NBI Shutdown Church Operating as Illegal Recruitment Front

April 30, 2025

Following President Marcos Jr.’s order to safeguard overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from illegal recruitment, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted an entrapment operation on April 28, 2025, leading to the closure of a church in Baras, Rizal.

Migrant Workers Secretary Cacdac directed the shutdown of Faithful Promise Foundation Philippines Inc., also known as Faithful Promise of Jesus Christ the Greatest Master Phil. Inc. and Faithful Promise Church in the Philippines, located in Santo Niรฑo Compound, Sitio Paenaan, Baras, Rizal. The church was found to be illegally recruiting individuals for jobs in Japan, Korea, and Papua New Guinea.

Undersecretary Olalia explained that the operation followed surveillance and the arrest of Pastora Esclarmonde Estrada Basalio, who was recruiting without DMW authorization. He stated that initial victims were fellow parishioners who reported the illegal activities, which were subsequently validated. Olalia noted instances of offloaded workers, ongoing illegal fee collection, and the recruitment of both departed and prospective OFWs. He emphasized that undocumented or improperly documented departures put lives at risk, underscoring the DMW’s concern for the well-being of OFWs and their families.

NBI Cavite North District Office Chief Nuqui revealed that the recruiter charged victims Php50,000 for processing and documents under the pretense of community work. He also reported receiving information about victims who arrived in other countries without the promised jobs.

Assistant Secretary Alcantara indicated that most victims were destined for construction and basic elementary occupations in Japan. The recruiter allegedly promised various jobs, including factory workers, tea pickers, clerks, accountants, mechanical engineers, and construction workers in Japan, Korea, and Papua New Guinea, with salaries ranging from Php36,000 to Php120,000.

Victims were reportedly issued tourist visas under the guise of missionary work and instructed to misrepresent their purpose to Immigration. Some were prevented from leaving, others were already deployed, and some were awaiting departure.

The closure operation was a joint effort by the DMWโ€™s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) and the NBI. The DMW encourages individuals victimized by this religious group to report their cases to the MWPB via the hotline +63 2 8721-0619, email mwpb@dmw.gov.ph, or Facebook page (@dmwairtip.

Source: @dmw.gov.ph

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) denounces the massive illegal recruitment for jobs in Italy

October 2, 2023

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has denounced the massive illegal recruitment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for jobs in Italy.

Here’s the full text of Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) statement;

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) denounces reported acts of massive illegal recruitment schemes preying on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) being charged with illegal and exorbitant placement and consultancy fees and lured into non-existent jobs in Italy.

The DMW is coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila and the Philippine Consulate General in Milan (PCG-Milan), and our Migrant Workers Office in Milan (MWO-Milan) in the investigation of alleged perpetrator agencies and individuals both in Italy and the Philippines.

The DMW is also working with the Department of Justice (DoJ) through our Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), in documenting and investigating the complaints of nearly 100 victims last week.

The DMW warns the public on offers of fake overseas job offers and the illegal collection of exorbitant placement fees. Through our AKSYON Fund, the DMW will put the full force of the law to bear on unscrupulous individuals and organizations and seek justice for victimized OFWs.

The DMW urges other victims of illegal recruitment to contact us and report these offenses so we may assist them in the filing of their cases. They may reach us through the Facebook page of our Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) at https://www.facebook.com/airbranch or email at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph and also through their hotline number +63 2 8721-0619.

Department of Migrant Workers shuts down operations of unlicensed Maritime Firm

March 30, 2023

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople has ordered the closure of a maritime consultancy firm JCB-Success Maritime Consultancy Services, a maritime consultancy firm in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The closure of the firm came after Manuel Jericho L. Ramos, one of the victims, complained that the firm was able to deliver their promised deployment after asking “him and three other applicants to pay P75,000 each as placement fee and encouraged to convince other colleagues to apply for positions offered by JCB.”

In addition to the filed complain, JCB is operating without any permit from the DMW. JCB operations is to offer jobs as deck seafarers, able engine seafarers, oilers, engineers, and yacht stewards. When a potential applicants/victim submitted the requirements like Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB), passport, resume, skill certifications, etc. They (victims) are then referred to an “international manning agency” for deployment. This is where the applicants are duped in “gettug” an offer and deployment, this is where the collection of fees are initiated.

It was determined that even those unqualified applicant were “promised jobs.”

JCB claimed that they have been deploying applicants since November 2022.

With its closure, JCB-Success Maritime Consultancy Services, its owner, employees, and officers will be included in the DMWโ€™s list of persons and establishments with derogatory records. They will be barred from participating in the governmentโ€™s overseas recruitment program.

The DMW will file illegal recruitment cases against the firmโ€™s owner and officers.

Under Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022, any act of hiring Filipino workers, undertaken without license or authority from the DMW, is considered illegal recruitment.
Illegal recruitment victims may contact the DMWโ€™s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau directly through their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/airbranch/ or email them at airbranch@dmw.gov.ph.