The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Friday shut down a travel consultancy agency at Barangay Pasong Tamo in Quezon City over illegal recruitment allegations.
DMW Secretary Susan ‘Toots’ Ople and Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) Director Geraldine Mendez led the closure of the offices of OVM Visa Assistance and Travel Consultancy.
In an interview with the media, Mendez said they acted upon a report from a victim who was required by the agency to pay ₱460,000 as a processing fee.
“Pero ang sabi doon, magbabayad muna sila ng downpayment ng ₱60,000. Once ma-issue na ‘yung visa ay ₱100,000, ₱100,000, hanggang sa mabuo na nag ₱460,000,” she added.
Meanwhile, Ople said the closure of OVM Visa Assistance and Travel Consultancy must serve as a stern warning to all travel agencies and immigration firms.
“Hindi kami titigil kahit ilan ang ipasara namin, kahit ilan ang kasuhan namin. Zero tolerance ang department pagdating sa illegal recruitment at human trafficking,” she added.
Ople asked victims to come forward to help them file a case against the said agency for illegal recruitment.
“Dahil kung tatlo at mahigit ang biktima, part siya ng economic sabotage na sinasabi at life imprisonment ang katapat doon sa may-ari ng establishment na ito,” she said.
The DMW Secretary then urged the public to report any travel or consultancy agency recruiting workers abroad that violated any anti-illegal recruitment law.
