Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday raided and shuttered a travel agency in Pasig City for illegally recruiting workers for caregiver jobs in the United States.Complainants accused the firm of collecting up to P150,000 in “processing fees” despite not having a license to offer employment overseas.DMW officials identified the establishment as “State 101 Travel Visa Consultancy”, which authorities said operated as a legitimate travel agency with permits from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, and the local government. It however lacked authorization from the DMW to recruit workers.Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the agency had been recruiting Filipino workers through social media advertisements promising caregiver jobs in the US, and luring them with free accommodation, food allowances, and salaries supposedly reaching US$1,800 or around 110,000 pesos a month.“Itong ating complainant ay lumapit dahil hindi siya na-deploy. Na-deny iyong kanyang tourist visa. Kaya nagsagawa tayo ng surveillance at napatunayan natin sa surveillance natin na merong training, may recruitment, may pagtanggap ng bayad na nangyayari dito sa opisina ng ‘State 101’, Olalia said.“Inamin naman ng may-ari na wala silang lisensya mula sa Department of Migrant Workers. Kaya’t ipapasa natin itong establishment na ito at mag-case build up tayo para makusahan iyong mga tao na involved, iyong may-ari,” he added.Authorities said at least four complainants have come forward. Each of them were allegedly instructed to apply for tourist or “training” visas instead of legitimate employment visas.<div> </div><div>VICTIM’S TESTIMONY</div>One of the complainants, a single mother from Salug, Zamboanga del Norte, recounted how she was allegedly lured through an ad posted on Facebook.“Noong mag-orientation kami doon po sa video call, pinakita niya sa akin iyong mga facilities doon sa Amerika. Ito daw iyong facilities na titirahan namin, doon kami titira, doon kami magtrabaho. So wala nang problema sa pagkain at sa accommodation,” she said.The complainant said she was promised a salary of US$1,800 and later offered a discounted processing fee of P90,000 from the original P100,000 if she paid immediately.She added that she only discovered later that a tourist visa, not a “training visa” as allegedly promised, had been processed for her application.The complainant said she waited around eight months before finally being scheduled for a US Embassy interview in December, where her visa application was denied.The victim said she eventually reported the matter to the DMW after suspecting that the operation was fraudulent and later warned other applicants on Facebook not to proceed with the agency.<div> </div><div>CASE BUILD-UP AGAINST THE TRAVEL AGENCY</div>DMW officials said investigators are now conducting further case build-up to determine how many people may have already been sent abroad by the agency, which authorities believe may have been using the scheme since 2022.“Aalamin natin, kaso 2022 iyong narinig natin. Nakita ko nga maraming mga pictures doon [sa loob ng travel agency]. Iyon iyong success story nila, allegedly,” Olalia said.Authorities said possible charges include syndicated and large-scale illegal recruitment, while coordination with the Philippine National Police and prosecutors is ongoing to strengthen the case and pursue arrests.They will also ask the Pasig City government to revoke the agency’s business permits.“Susulatan natin ang City of Pasig. Lahat ng ahensya, ipapa-cancel natin iyong kanilang mga permit,” Olalia said.The DMW also warned aspiring overseas workers against social media job offers promising quick deployment through tourist, student, business, or training visas.The department urged the public to personally verify recruiters and agencies with the DMW before making payments or accepting overseas job offers, while assuring complainants that efforts are underway to recover the money they had paid.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday raided and shuttered a travel agency in Pasig City for illegally recruiting workers for caregiver jobs in the United States.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday raided and shuttered a travel agency in Pasig City for illegally recruiting workers for caregiver jobs in the United States.

DMW shuts down Pasig travel agency over alleged illegal recruitment for US caregiver jobs

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DMW shuts down Pasig travel agency over alleged illegal recruitment for US caregiver jobs

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 15, 2026 12:10 AM PHT

Read More:

Department of Migrant Workers

illegal recruitment

DMW

OFW

Overseas Filipino Workers

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