Department of Foreign Affairs building. (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) asked recruiters on Thursday not to advise applicants to line up for application late at night.
DFA Assistant Secretary Eduardo Martin Menez’s remark came after an influx of walk-in consular applicants was observed.
“I think at this point, siguro parang unang pasabi na lang muna sa mga nabanggit na recruiter na huwag na muna siguro nilang payuhin ‘yung mga aplikante nila na pumila ng dis oras ng gabi,” Meñez said in a virtual press briefing.
(I think at this point, just a word to recruiters: do not advise applicants to fall in line late at night.)
He likewise advised applicants to prepare their visit to DFA offices.
“In any case, dapat alalahanin ng mga tao na kung mayroon kayong dokumento na kailangan ipa-legalize, apostille, agahan niyo po ‘yung plano niyo, huwag ‘yung last minute,” he added.
(In any case, the people should remember that if they have a document that is needed to be legalized or for apostille services, plan early, not at the last minute.)
Based on the DFA’s preliminary investigation, misinformation allegedly disseminated by recruitment agencies resulted in the large volume of walk-in clients for consular services.
Executive Director Christian de Jesus, of the Office of Consular Affairs, said recruiters who spread misinformation will be dealt with accordingly.
“‘Yan po ay magde-depend du’n sa resulta ng imbestigasyon at ng mga ahensya na mayroong mandate at kapangyarihan para magbigay o mag hand down ng desisyon tungkol sa pananagutan ng mga nagkakalat ng misinformation. Ngayon po ay ongoing pa ang investigation,” he said.
(The liability of recruiters will depend on the result of the investigation and the agencies with mandate and power to give or hand down decisions for those spreading misinformation. Now, the investigation is still ongoing.) Jericho Zafra, INQUIRER.net intern