Warning up on overseas recruitment scams

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday warned the public against scams supposedly offering jobs abroad, targeting those who are stranded either in airports and bus stations.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque issued the warning as stranded individuals await at airports to return to their home provinces following the ease of lockdown measures.

“Paalala lang po sa ating mga kababayan, marami pong manloloko ngayon, lalong-lalo na diyan sa mga na-stranded sa airport at sa ating mga bus stations,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(I’m reminding our countrymen, there are countless scammers these days targeting those stranded at airports and bus stations.)

“Ang mga nakita nating locally stranded persons ay nagiging biktima ng panloloko, pinapangakuan ng trabaho sa ibang bansa, at sinasabihang pumunta sa mga airports para sa kanilang mga flights. Mag-ingat po tayo sa ganyan,” he added.

(The locally stranded individuals are being victimized by scams, being promised work abroad, and are being told to go to airports for their flights. Let’s be cautious about these things.)

Roque added the government is keeping an eye on the illegal recruiters.

“Binabalaan din po natin ang mga illegal recruiters: Hindi po bulag ang gobyerno. Alam natin po ang inyong illegal na gawain. Itigil niyo ‘yan po dahil kilala natin kung sino kayo,” he said.

(We are warning illegal recruiters. The government is not blind. We know your illegal activities. Stop that because we know who you are.)

Some commercial flights have resumed upon the easing of lockdown measures in Metro Manila and several areas nationwide.