BI to OFWs: Don’t take shortcuts just to work abroad

MANILA, Philippines — Avoid dealing with fake recruiters and taking shortcuts when trying to find employment abroad.

This was the reminder raised by Immigration chief Jaime Morente on Sunday as another Filipina was intercepted by the agency after presenting a tampered overseas employment certificate and a fake Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) clearance.

According to Morente, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should not take “shortcuts” when leaving the country as human traffickers would not stop their illegal works.

“They just won’t stop. Walang manloloko kung walang magpapaloko. Do not take so-called shortcuts just to work abroad.  It is for your own protection,” he said.

Morente stressed that presenting fake documents would not get through the immigration officers assigned in the airport, as their computer system is linked with POEA.

This, Morente said, makes fake permits and other bogus documents easier to detect.

Morente then urged future OFWs not to deal with illegal recruiters as it would only cause trouble for them.

“Do not deal with these fraud syndicates because believing them is to your disadvantage,” Morente said in a statement.

“Deal only with licensed recruiters and not with these human traffickers whose only motive is to earn profits at the expense of our poor kababayan,” he added.

Based on the data of the immigration bureau, at least 14 OFWs were stopped at the NAIA for having fake overseas employment certificates and POEA clearances during the Holy Week break alone. /je