SENATE HEARING. Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia attends on Tuesday (Feb. 13, 2024) the second hearing of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers to discuss various illegal recruitment schemes. He warned Filipinos seeking work abroad against recruitment agencies or agents offering student or tourist visas to work abroad, saying these are illegitimate migration pathways. (Screenshot from Senate Youtube livestream)
MANILA – An official of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has warned Filipinos seeking work abroad against recruitment agencies or agents offering student or tourist visas, saying these are illegitimate migration pathways.
DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia made the warning Tuesday during a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers discussing filed resolutions about massive recruitment schemes to work abroad.
"Pinapalabas po natin sa labor advisory na never pong tatanggap ang taong nagnanais magtrabaho abroad ng student visa o kaya ay tourist visa kasi hindi po ito lehitimong labor migration pathway to any destination country. Isa po itong (In our labor advisories we warn people who wanted to work abroad to never accept student or tourist visas because these are not legitimate labor migration pathways to any destination country. This is a) red flag," Olalia told the panel chaired by Senator Raffy Tulfo.
One of the cases discussed at the hearing involved a former Cebu City councilor Niña Mabatid who allegedly conducted illegal recruitment activities in different parts of the country, even in Hong Kong and other countries for jobs in Canada.
The DMW had sent notices to their regional offices to warn PESOs about Mabatid's activities, Olalia said.
"Huwag na po ninyong patulan at isumbong na agad sa amin at kami na po ang gagawa ng paraan para makasuhan po namin 'yung tao (Do not entertain and report to us immediately. Let us file the cases)," he said, warning Filipinos not to fall for such schemes.
The National Bureau of Investigation, through its regional offices, is now preparing to file illegal recruitment and estafa cases against the former councilor.
(PNA)
