BI reiterates warning against illegal recruiters preying on hapless OFWs

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has reiterated its warning against illegal recruiters victimizing unsuspecting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are forced to pose as tourists, presenting fake overseas employment certificates (OEC) upon departure at the airports.

The warning came after the BI intercepted cases of suspected human trafficking at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) with the victims passing themselves off as tourists bound for Singapore.

Upon secondary inspection, the victims were found to be actually headed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where they were illegally recruited to work.

It was later discovered that the victims were recruited via social media purportedly to work for a club resort in Dubai.

The BI also noted the recurrence of illegal recruitment victims presenting fake OECs.

An OEC is the basic requirement for departing OFWs issued by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

Citing the case of a female passenger who was recruited to work as a household helper in Hong Kong, the victim attempted to depart via a Cebu Pacific Air flight at the Clark International Airport before she was intercepted by Immigration personnel.

Further verifications with DMW officers at the airport confirmed that the document was counterfeit.

“Our system is integrated with the DMW, making it easier for us to detect fake certificates,” BI chief Norman Tansingco said. Vito Barcelo in damages, broken down into P1 million in nominal damages, P500,000 for moral damages, an additional P500,000 for exemplary damages and P150,000 for legal fees.

“Ito po ay kung sa civil code ay human relations provision ito po yung paano tayo makikipag kapwa at nakasaad po sa pakikipagkapwa natin at bawal umabuso po ng ating mga karapatan o gawin. Kapag lumagpas na o umabuso na at nakapag violate ng rights ng iba ay kailangan po managot,” (The Civil Code’s human relations provision prescribes how we should interact with other people, mandates that it is unlawful to violate and abuse the rights of others,” Conti stressed.

Celiz, in a statement, described the

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday filed criminal charges with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against two traders allegedly involved in the illegal smuggling of drugs worth more than P8 million.

The BOC did not identify the alleged illegal drugs importers, but said the complaints have been submitted to the DOJ for alleged violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The BOC said one of the respondents was charged for unlawful importation of a shipment purportedly containing children’s playing items that turned out to be containing 5,032 pieces of ecstasy pills with an estimated value of P8.554 million through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in December last year.

The second trader was charged in relation to the importation of ketamine hidden inside glass jars that were declared as rose candles.

The estimated delivery duty paid (DDP) value of the ketamine was P2.120 million. It occurred at the UPS Warehouse Hub, Port of Clark, on May 14.