By
Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
Laoag City—With the increasing number of Ilocanos migrating abroad to find
employment, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in
partnership with the 21 municipalities and two cities of Ilocos Norte, has
intensified their information drive against illegal recruitment and trafficking
in persons.
As
a result, another illegal recruitment case was filed on at the Marcos Hall
of Justice against Joan Guillermo of Brgy. Valenciano in Dingras, Ilocos Norte
for recruiting at least seven women, of legal age from Laoag City to work
abroad.
Based
on investigation conducted by the Crime Investigation and Detection Group, it
was discovered that Ms. Guillermo had no POEA license to recruit overseas
workers.
Ms.
Guillermo’s case is now the 13th illegal recruitment charge filed
in Ilocos Norte.
“The
increase of [illegal recruitment] cases maybe positive or negative. But in
terms of our intensified drive against illegal recruitment, we can say that
this is a positive development because complainants are now aware of their rights
and know whom to seek help in filing cases against illegal recruiters,” said
Delfina Camarillo, POEA Regional Center based in San Fernando City, La Union
officer-in-charge.
While
in Ilocos Norte for the filing of charges against the latest case of illegal
recruitment here, Ms. Camarillo said they continue to assist applicants for
overseas employment.
Every
second and fourth Tuesday of the month, the POEA along with other
government agencies gather at the Ilocos Norte provincial auditorium for a one-stop
shop service for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
She
said illegal recruitment remains a major concern with increasing cases of
illegal recruitment filed in court.
“This
is why the POEA continue to forge memorandum of understanding with local government
units involving barangay officials to help out in the campaign,” she said.
Aiming
for an illegal recruitment-free province of Ilocos Norte, Camarillo said a
continuing campaign against illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons is
being conducted in various parts of the province.
When
applying for work abroad, Camarillo reminded applicants to take precautionary
measures and ensure that their application passes through the POEA and work
abroad the legal way.
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