POEA execs, guards, janitors sacked, suspended over alleged illegal recruitment —DOLE


By RIE TAKUMI

Officials suspected of involvement in illegal recruitment will be suspended from duty, reshuffled, or removed from duty and charged if proven guilty at the end of the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) investigation.
Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say said at a press conference on Tuesday that about 40 security guards and janitors would also be replaced for their supposed compliance in the illegal recruitment schemes at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA).
“May mga reports kasi tayo na nagagamit po yung ating mga security guards at janitors dun sa illegal activities. Either ginagawa silang bagman or runner. Ito po ang napakasakit, dahil siyempre yung ating mga security guards na dapat ay nagtatrabaho ay nagagamit ng ating mga tiwaling opisyal,” he said.
“Bibigyan po natin ng pagkakataon na imbestigahan natin ito, kung dapat palitan ay papalitan po natin, upang sa ganun wala na silang maging conspirators,” Say continued. “We'll get to the bottom of that.”


Say and Usec. Bernard Olalia were also tasked by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to implement the suspension and cancellation of licenses of certain recruitment agencies suspected of or engaged in illegal recruitment.
In light of the modus of using janitors and security guards to deliver paperwork to involved officers, CCTV cameras will be installed at every POEA office.
“I think last January, nagkaroon tayo ng reshuffle for the senior officials ng POEA. But now, this is a more in-depth reshuffle and revamp, top-to-bottom po ang ginagawa. And there will be some officials there who will be removed from their posts,” Say said.
The subject of repeated reports will be the first to be removed along with persons in “sensitive positions na very easy prey to temptations.”
“Pending the final determination, as based on the investigation result, di pa natin masasabi kung saan talaga sila involved. However, we can say at the moment na yung mga taong humahawak ng mga sensitive positions na very easy prey to temptations, ay yun ang mga aalisin,” Say clarified.
“Plus, other reports that we have been receiving – na consistent naman, hindi lang once or twice – yung mga taong involved sa reports na 'yun ay sila ang unang aalisin sa mga pwesto nila. Again, this is pending investigation, aalisin muna so para hindi lang sila ma-involve further. Aalisin lang muna sa pwesto nila at ililipat,” he said.
Presidential appointees might also be removed, depending on the recommendation of certain officials, he added.
“Pagkatapos ng ating further investigation as conducted by Usec. Olalia, circumstances warrant, we will let the secretary decide for termination dahil ang karamihan sa mga ito ay presidential appointees,” Say said.
While the entire agency is under investigation, those involved with the processing of direct hires, balik-manggagawa, and agency-hires will be particularly placed under high scrutiny.
DOLE suspended the acceptance and processing of overseas employment certificates for 15 working days over concerns of illegal recruitment on November 10.
An estimated 75,000 would-be OFWs were estimated to be affected by the suspension that will make way for an investigation on POEA employees who allegedly issue OECs to illegal recruiters in exchange for huge sums of money.
The previous investigation into the POEA had led to the removal of two officers and transfer of an officer.
Olalia said the investigation will wrap up "for sure" by December 1 to allow POEA to process OECs again by December 2.
Still, Say urged affected OFWs and balikbayans that they were still free to take a holiday in the Philippines during the period of suspension.






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