Corrupt RP officials smuggled minors for overseas jobs

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Manuel Villar on Monday said corrupt immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and illegal recruiters were behind the smuggling of minors and undocumented workers outside the country.

This was after nine of the 10 overseas Filipino workers from Jordan, whom Villar helped return to the country, arrived Monday and narrated how they were able to go abroad without the proper documents.

Five of the OFWs were minors.

One of the young workers, whose identity was withheld, said they were able to go out of the country with a tourist visa.

She said their recruiter was able to convince them to work abroad despite the absence of some of the requirements and they were able to get out of the country with the help of immigration officers conniving with their recruiter.

Villar said although it is indicated in the passport that the holder is of age, one can easily determine that it is not true as the holder looks young.

On the other hand, the senator said the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration should explain the slow process in the repatriation of distressed Filipinos abroad.

Villar shouldered the airplane tickets of the OFWs. The distressed workers arrived from Jordan via Thai Airways after being stranded in the Middle East kingdom for almost a year.

Ms Avic Amarillo, Villar’s media officer, earlier said the senator chanced upon the distressed OFWs in Jordan while on his way to South Africa, where he attended the annual Interparliamentary Union (IPU) summit. - GMANews.TV

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