DMW sending probe team to Italy amid reported fraud cases victimizing OFWs
MANILA, Philippines — Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac on Thursday said that the department will deploy a “high-level” fact-finding team to investigate the alleged fraud and illegal recruitment activities in Italy which have supposedly victimized Filipinos.
In a statement, Cacdac said the team will conduct interviews and gather information from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were allegedly victimized by Golden Power SRLS and Alpha Assistenza.
According to the same DMW statement, the victims were charged placement fees of P90,000 to P240,00 in exchange for jobs in Italy for their relatives in the Philippines.
“Initial reports on the modus operandi of the two illegal recruitment agencies show that they find their potential victims – OFWs based in Italy whom they offer non-existent jobs for their unemployed relatives in the Philippines. They would then convince the victims that they will help their unemployed relatives get work permits in Italy in exchange for expensive processing fees,” said Cacdac.
“We cannot allow these individuals and companies to get away with their nefarious activities. We urge other victims to come to us so we can help them document and file their cases,” Cacdac added.
Sixty eight victims have so far filed complaints before the Department of Justice in Manila, according to DMW.
