The government has renewed its warning against illegal recruitment as 19 Filipinas were recently rescued by local authorities  from human trafficking.
The Office of the Vice President  said of the 19, 17 were rescued Thursday from a night club in Mandaue City  while two were saved during a separate operation conducted by local enforcement  agencies aided by the Interpol Malaysia and the Royal Malaysian Police last July 24 to 29 this year,
“I am happy to note that our efforts to curb human trafficking are supported by our Asean neighbors. I am thankful that we were given full cooperation by the Malaysian government,”  Binay said.
Binay  lauded the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the successful rescue operation.
He said three persons were arrested and will be charged with violation of the RA 9208 or Anti-Trafficking Act of 2003.
The vice president  cited  IACAT prosecutor Atty. Jonathan Lledo, PSSupt. Rodilo B. Jocson, and PO3 Erwin Navarro for the successful July operation.
He said the two victims, who were recruited by a prostitution syndicate operating in Mindanao, are willing to serve as state witnesses against the syndicate.
Binay is the chairman emeritus of the IACAT. He is also the concurrent Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ concerns and the chairman of the Presidential Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment (PTFAIR).
The Vice President also congratulated the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) and the Zamboanga Sea-Based Anti-Trafficking Task Force (ZSBATTF) for their continuous monitoring of human trafficking activities in the Zamboanga City Wharf.
PCTC and ZSBATTF offloaded some 85 passengers headed for Malaysia in three separate inspections in July.
“The offloaded passengers came from as far as Cagayan and Ilocos Norte.” Binay said.
As of Aug. 1, the anti-trafficking czar said there have been 11 human-trafficking related convictions with a total of 18 persons convicted.
“This brings to the total number of human trafficking related convictions under President Aquino’s administration to 46 compared to the 29 convictions of the previous administration over a six-year period,” he said.
Moreover, Binay warned potential OFWs not to apply for jobs abroad through recruitment agencies whose licenses have either been revoked or suspended by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) due to numerous recruitment violations.
Government revoked the licenses of 20 recruitment agencies and suspended 17 others due to violations, said Vice President Jejomar C. Binay.
“Since January, POEA has cancelled the licenses of 20 agencies for premature collection of fees, overcharging, and reprocessing or recycling of job orders.
POEA also suspended 17 other agencies for non-issuance of receipts, misrepresentation, falsifying or altering travel documents, deploying workers to employers not accredited by POEA, and failure to deploy workers within the prescribed period without a valid reason.,” Binay said.
Stripped of their licenses were: Taifil Manpower Services, Lucky International Placement Services Inc.; Gold & Green Manpower Management & Development Service; Asahi International Manpower Corp.; Multi System Conexions International Inc.; Prime Stars, and Tria International Recruitment Agency;
Petra Personnel Employment Technical Recruitment Agency; Northwest Placement Inc.; Steadfast International Corp.; Acclaimed One Manpower & Recruitment Services; Bailey Corporation; Hannah International Manpower Services; and Marvic Overseas Placement;
Jerzon Manpower & Trading Corp.; Lucky Zoe International Manpower Agency; Philippine Integrated Labor Assistance; Unlimited Manpower  Resources, Inc.; Cerel International Manpower Services Inc.; and Vogue Plus Promotions.
Suspended meanwhile were Alshiera International Manpower Services; Mi Amore International Services Inc.; Goldmine International Recruitment Agency; Awas Manpower Services, and Crown Overseas Placement Inc.;
Vogue Plus Promotion; Wavex Management; Morland Overseas Manpower; Asmara International; Emissary Recruitment; Richfield Overseas; Tessa Recruitment; Solidworks Manpower; First Cosmopolitan; PVE Placement; and Worldgoal Corporation.
“I appeal to our kababayans to be careful in accepting job offers abroad. Go through the proper channels and processes. This is the only way that you could protect yourself from illegal recruiters and human traffickers,” Binay said.