29 Aug Philippine Embassy in Malaysia Alerted Filipinos About Illegal Overseas Recruitment Exiting through Mindanao
The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia alerted Filipinos to be vigilant as illegal recruitment syndicates offers overseas jobs exiting through Western Mindanao, to Sabah then transport to the Middle East particularly in Dubai or other countries.
Philippine embassy in Malaysia warned that authorities of Sabah are now aggressive in arresting Filipinos who tend to travel across the borders to Sandakan, Sabah.
The embassy stated, “Being made to exit via Zamboanga or Tawi-Tawi is a sure tell-tale sign of illegal trafficking and should ring alarm bells to job-seekers. They risk apprehension by Sabah authorities for unauthorized entry or fall victim to sex and other traffickers.”
Legal employment requires working visas issued by the embassy in Manila for a destination country, the embassy reminded Filipino job seekers.
Work permits from the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) are also required if a Filipino prefers to work abroad.
The embassy said, “If the job offer requires the applicant to exit through Mindanao, it is most likely a human trafficking ploy.”
Currently, there are about 20 Filipina victims who were seized by the Sabah authorities.
The embassy mentioned that there once a Filipina who was offered to work as a domestic helper in Dubai and was said to be recruited by Layes Lynian of Al Eternad Labor Supply company based in Manila.
The Filipina and other victims went to Zamboanga then boarded a ship to Sandakan, Sabah but they were arrested by the Sabah authorities, according to the husband of the Filipina victim who also informed the embassy.
Syndicates also utilized the most popular means of communication and interaction, the social media. Another Filipina also revealed that someone named Flordeliza Flores Eborde which she only met through social media, introduced them to a certain individual called as “Ms. Venus”. Ms. Venus can only be contacted through mobile phones, through it, she instructed them to go to Brooke’s Point in Palawan and get on a motorboat going to Mapun, Tawi-Tawi.
When they arrived, the Filipina together with 7 other victims transferred to a speed boat going to Sabah. They were accommodated by an agent named as Mr. Jomar or Dumar Kasim. As they arrived in Sandakan, the Sabah authorities immediately arrested them.
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