Illegal recruitment up in Cordillera; 142 victims

BAGUIO CITY – Illegal recruitment cases are still on the rise in the Cordillera  with 69 cases filed involving 142 victims, the regional Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said.

For this year, the POEA Cordillera regional office reported 16 cases involving 73 individuals.

With increasing trend of Cordillerans migrating abroad to work, the POEA called for stronger partnership in  campaign against human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

POEA Cordillera regional extension unit supervisor Delfina Camarillo, in a recent media forum said from the 18,622 overseas employment documents they processed in 2012, this increased to 20,933 in 2013.

With this, she  cited importance of stronger partnership among government agencies in addressing illegal recruitment cases.

The POEA signed memorandum of understanding with the provincial governments  of Apayao and Abra, as well as with the municipality of Tuba, Benguet, against illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

 “We are now taking the capability enhancement training in convergence with other agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, as well as with local government units through their Public Employment Service Office, in bringing in important information to the people,” Camarillo said.

POEA provides  assistance to  illegal recruitment victims  in terms of filing a case or  endorses them to the National Bureau of Investigation or to the nearest law enforcement agencies for investigation.

Camarillo also reminded  applicants to take precautionary measures and avoid recruiters who  conduct house-to-house or mall recruitments, those who cannot present authorization as recruitment agency and those who did not get clearance from Dept of Labor and Employment.

 “All those who want to work abroad must pass through the POEA. It is for your own protection. Work abroad the legal way”, Camarillo said. -  Jam Lardera and Cherish Macaraeg