Trafficked Pinoy teachers in the US urged to come out in the open
Philippine officials in the United States are appealing to some 500 Filipino teachers there who were victimized by illegal recruiters to reach out to the embassy so that they could be given sufficient assistance.
“Our teachers need not be afraid. We are here to help,” said Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. after learning of the sad plight of the undocumented Filipino teachers.
He said the embassy is ready to provide them legal assistance for their repatriation and filing of charges against their recruiters.
Also among the consular assistance that the embassy will extend to the trafficked teachers are waiving of the authentication fees as well as issuance of the necessary certification to support their request for immigration relief with the US Department of Homeland Security, Cuisia said.
Labor Attaché Angel Borja said the embassy will also recommend that employment opportunities being offered to Filipinos in the US be first verified to determine if such jobs exist.
In a meeting with some 25 trafficked Filipino teachers, Cuisia assured them that authorities in the Philippines continue the pursue alleged illegal recruiter Isidro Rodriguez, who managed to escape from detention several months ago.
“We will not stop until we get Isidro Rodriguez,” he said.
A total of 21 illegal recruitment cases have been filed against Rodriguez, while 41 recruitment violation cases have been filed against his company, Renaissance Staffing Support Center Inc. in Manila since 2003, the Philippine Embassy said.
Borja said Rodriguez' victims could be as many as 1,000—all of them teachers whom he allegedly was able to convince to pay from $10,000 to $15,000 each for non-existing jobs in various public schools across the US from 2003 to 2007.
Lawyer Arnedo Valera, executive director of the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), a non-government organization that has been providing legal assistance to many of the teachers, said cases have also been filed against Rodriguez with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Valera said that while some of the teachers decided to head back to the Philippines, most opted to take a chance by staying and working illegally in the US.
He said these teachers had no choice but to take menial jobs to allow them to provide for their families and at the same time pay the high-interest loans they secured for their placement fees.
“Although as many as 300 of the teachers have already been issued trafficking visas and can now legally stay and work in the US, most are hesitant to surface because of shame and fear,” Valera said.
“But they are now coming forward one by one.” —Elizabeth Marcelo/KBK, GMA News
“Our teachers need not be afraid. We are here to help,” said Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. after learning of the sad plight of the undocumented Filipino teachers.
He said the embassy is ready to provide them legal assistance for their repatriation and filing of charges against their recruiters.
Also among the consular assistance that the embassy will extend to the trafficked teachers are waiving of the authentication fees as well as issuance of the necessary certification to support their request for immigration relief with the US Department of Homeland Security, Cuisia said.
Labor Attaché Angel Borja said the embassy will also recommend that employment opportunities being offered to Filipinos in the US be first verified to determine if such jobs exist.
In a meeting with some 25 trafficked Filipino teachers, Cuisia assured them that authorities in the Philippines continue the pursue alleged illegal recruiter Isidro Rodriguez, who managed to escape from detention several months ago.
“We will not stop until we get Isidro Rodriguez,” he said.
A total of 21 illegal recruitment cases have been filed against Rodriguez, while 41 recruitment violation cases have been filed against his company, Renaissance Staffing Support Center Inc. in Manila since 2003, the Philippine Embassy said.
Borja said Rodriguez' victims could be as many as 1,000—all of them teachers whom he allegedly was able to convince to pay from $10,000 to $15,000 each for non-existing jobs in various public schools across the US from 2003 to 2007.
Lawyer Arnedo Valera, executive director of the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), a non-government organization that has been providing legal assistance to many of the teachers, said cases have also been filed against Rodriguez with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Valera said that while some of the teachers decided to head back to the Philippines, most opted to take a chance by staying and working illegally in the US.
He said these teachers had no choice but to take menial jobs to allow them to provide for their families and at the same time pay the high-interest loans they secured for their placement fees.
“Although as many as 300 of the teachers have already been issued trafficking visas and can now legally stay and work in the US, most are hesitant to surface because of shame and fear,” Valera said.
“But they are now coming forward one by one.” —Elizabeth Marcelo/KBK, GMA News
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