Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Travelers arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City on August 4, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

NAIA

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175386240843020230804-naia-travellers-jc-1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Travelers arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City on August 4, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday inked agreements with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and TikTok Philippines to strengthen its fight against human trafficking and illegal recruitment.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/17/illegal-recruitment-of-filipino-migrants-still-a-huge-problem-says-owwa-1324">Illegal recruitment of Filipino migrants still a huge problem, says OWWA</a></div><p>The agency said the agreements “represent a powerful convergence of legal advocacy and digital engagement in the fight against human trafficking” in observance of the World Day Against Trafficking.</p><p>DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said aside from extending assistance to address legal woes of overseas Filipino workers, the IBP can also help in prosecuting traffickers and illegal recruiters. </p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>TIKTOK</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>“Mas mapapalakas ang laban kontra illegal recruitment and human trafficking kasi ka-partner natin ‘yung platform na posibleng dun sila pumunta at mag-alok ng ilegal na trabaho. So masusugpo natin sila dun,&quot; Cacdac said.</p><p>&quot;And at the same time, these will be leads for law enforcement to track them down and file possible cases,” he added.</p><p>Cacdac pointed out the need to catch up in prosecuting illegal recruiters.</p><p>The DMW handled 299 illegal recruitment and labor trafficking cases from January to June 2025, with 761 complainants and one conviction.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/26/filipinos-lose-thousands-of-dollars-to-fraudulent-recruitment-agency-in-canada-1927">Filipinos lose thousands of dollars to fraudulent recruitment agency in Canada</a></div><p>“Safety is our top priority on TikTok. What this means is that in this case, we don’t allow attempts to defraud or scam members of our community. That’s in violation of our community guidelines. What we do is we ban accounts that have severe violation or repeated violations,” TikTok Philippines Public Policy Manager Peachy Paderna said. </p><p>As of June 2025, the platform has taken down 40,115 illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons-related posts, according to DMW.</p><p>DMW Undersecretary Bernand Olalia underscored the need to be proactive in online surveillance as illegal recruiters monitor their announcements of job openings abroad to lure victims.</p><p>“Fina-follow ng illegal recruiters ‘yung ating announcements, sumasabay sila sa social media. Nakikita mo may mga posts doon knowing that we do some G2G (government-to-government) deployments or kung hindi man G2G, mga agency hires, sumusunod sila sa daloy ng pathway,” he stated.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>IBP</strong></div><div> </div><p>“Yung mga OFWs na nanumbalik, kadalasan wala silang abogado. We will respectfully refer them to the IBP para mabigyan sila ng kaukulang legal na assistance, na tulong, para mayroon silang panabla dun sa abogado ng recruitment agency o sino man ‘yung mga big shot na scammer na dinidemanda nila o hinahabol nila,” Cacdac said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/26/dmw-shuts-down-recruitment-agency-in-manila-for-violations-2257"> DMW shuts down recruitment agency in Manila for violations</a></div><p>The IBP said it will offer traditional and developmental legal aid to distressed overseas Filipino workers and their families.</p><p>“Isang pamamaraan upang maiwasan ang illegal recruitment ay sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay edukasyon para sa ating mga kababayang Pilipino. Kung kaya’t kami sa IBP, may tinatawag tayong dalawang klasipikasyon ng pro bono legal aid service na ibinibigay natin sa ating mga kababayan,” IBP National President Allan Panolong said.</p><p>Around 1,600 lawyers across the country have volunteered to help with the agency in extending legal assistance, according to the IBP.</p><p>“We will be more aggressive and better, stronger in terms of not just handling cases for OFWs’ defense but also filing cases in behalf of OFWS,” Cacdac said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AzDAlbqN5jE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The DMW said the partnership represents "a powerful convergence of legal advocacy and digital engagement in the fight against human trafficking” in the Philippines.</p>

The DMW said the partnership represents "a powerful convergence of legal advocacy and digital engagement in the fight against human trafficking” in the Philippines.

TikTok, IBP to help gov't in fight vs human trafficking, illegal recruitment

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TikTok, IBP to help gov't in fight vs human trafficking, illegal recruitment

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 30, 2025 04:04 PM PHT

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DMW

Department of Migrant Workers

Integrated Bar of the Philippines

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Tiktok Philippines

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illegal recruitment

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