News: DOLE and rights office in Vizcaya spat over illegal recruitment case

BAYOMBONG, Philippines – Eleven alleged victims of illegal recruitment in this northern province are restless due to a squabble between the Provincial Human Rights Action Center (PHRAC) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) over the handling of their complaint.

The conflict started when the “victims" sought the help of PHRAC after they were reportedly given an “unsound" advice by some personnel of DOLE.

PHRAC head Edwin Carabbacan said: “The victims sought my help because they feared that the suggestion of DOLE to endorse the case to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will only imperil their chances of getting back their money."

“DOLE should be more prudent in their function as labor arbiters and as lead agency of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA). All remedies within their power should be exhausted first before making such a decision," he added.

PHRAC said the “victims" who are all residents of Nueva Vizcaya claimed they were duped of more than P500,000 after signing contracts with local agents of Manila based 3R International Manpower Services and Gerdin Manpower, Inc. for overseas work during a jobs fair last year in Solano town. It turned out that there were no job orders for the contracts.

PHRAC also complained of reports by some media men that DOLE allowed the agents to conduct recruitment activities within their premises even if they were already aware of the complaints against them.

In an interview with GMANews.TV, Moralit denied the reports saying that they were not coddling erring agents of the two recruitment firms.

“We cannot be affected by the innuendos of PHRAC and act on mere rumors. They (victims) should have approached me first. We cannot do anything unless strong evidences are presented to us, besides, the two recruitment firms are licensed and are armed with Special Recruitment Authority (SRA)," disclosed Moralit.

Asked if he will still endorse the case to the NBI rather than mediate for the concerned parties first, Moralit said: “I will opt to endorse it to the NBI since it’s a case of large-scale illegal recruitment."

DOLE and PHRAC are both located at the provincial capitol compound and are only four offices apart.

*  I know most Filipino people wants to go abroad for work since there are really few opportunities here as well as the compensation is not big compared abroad. And usually you need the aide of the agencies who will recruit and will try to help them find an employer abroad but it's just sad, that some agencies instead of helping their fellowman are doing illegal transactions by letting them pay and promising work for them abroad when there is none but they have already let this said person pay them in advance. So this victims recruited by illegal recruitment agency have the right to complain and seek help with this Government agencies in order for their money to be returned. But I have heard cases before like this that this agency will be closed and the money won’t be returned 100%. So in applying for recruitment agencies, you must be extra careful. *