15 illegal recruitment victims rescued in Malate

Fifteen women were rescued by government agents from a suspected illegal recruitment agency in Malate, Manila, on Thursday, a report on “24 Oras” said.

The report said the women, who came from provinces, were detained and promised jobs in the Middle East by Tuem International Manpower Corp. without having to pay placement fees and other expenses.

“Sabi niya sa palasyo ka naka-assign, kasama mo yung mga royal. May bantay kami po, sir, binabantayan kami ng isang agent dun. 'Wag lumabas, kung lumabas kayo, dapat magpaalam,” shared Gina, one of the four women who escaped from the agency and brought the matter to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

NBI-Anti-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD) chief Eric Czar Nuqui said other fees, including accommodation, food, and rent, substitute placement fees.

He said the agency's license to operate was expired.

“Dahil kanselado nga, undocumented ho sila (victims) lalabas. Kung matutuloy man sila, vulnerable ho ang mga kababayan natin. Yung possibility na maging trafficking victim sila ay malaking-malaki,” Nuqui said.

More than 200 passports were recovered by the NBI in a vault during the raid, strengthening its charges against Tuem.

Though company officials admitted that their license has expired, they said they were just processing the final batch of recruits and were not operating illegally.

Gerry Olarte, a company official, denied Gina's accusation that the recruits were detained, insisting that they were free to come in and out of the agency.

“Hindi namin ho sila dito ikinukulong gawa ng, unang-una, malaya ho sila,” he said in the report.—Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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