DMW shuts down Baguio-based Japanese Language Training Center for alleged illegal recruitment
BAGUIO CITY – (August 2, 2024) The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) closed down a Japanese language training center in Baguio City on Friday for offering jobs to Japan without the necessary license from the government to engage in the recruitment and placement of Filipinos for overseas work.
DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia and Assistant Secretary Francis Ron de Guzman, together with the DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), in coordination with the Baguio City Police, padlocked the office of the Institute of Building Foreign Language Inc. (IBFL) located at No. 11 M. Ponce Street, First Road, Quezon Hill Proper, Baguio City.
“The IBFL is neither licensed and authorized by the DMW to recruit and place Filipino workers nor does have any approved job orders to Japan. Ito ay malinaw na illegal recruitment ng ating mga kababayan na nais magtrabaho sa Japan na ang mga biktima ay residente ng Baguio,” Undersecretary Olalia said
“Sa iba’t ibang sulok ng Pilipinas, ang DMW sa utos ni Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac pinaiigting natin ang prorama laban sa mga nambibiktima ng mga OFW na ito ang mga illegal recruiters at trafficking in persons, kaya kami ay nagka conduct ng surveillance both physical and online, sa taong ito ay umabot na sa 12 ang aming napasara na ito ay nasa iba’t-ibang lugar kaya sa mga illegal recruiters ito ay isang babala mula sa Department of Migrant Workers saan man dako kayo sa Pilipinas pupuntahan namin kayo, sasampahan namin kayo ng kaso at ipapasara namin ang inyong negosyo, makikipag uganayan kami sa lokal na pamahalaan lalo na sa LGU para makakuha ng hustisya yun mga nabiktima,”
“Wala tayong inaresto ngayon dahil mayron tayong tinatawag na warrantless arrest kinakailangan susunod tayo sa alituntunin ng batas kailangan narito yun complainant at halimbawa sila ay tumanggap ng pera, kailangan may aktuwal na transaction na nangyari yun ang inaantay namin, bagama’t walang nangyaring ganun kami pa rin ay naparito upang isarado upang mahinto yung masamang ginagawa nila pero tayo ay magsasagawa ng masusing imbestigasyon may aresto man o wala ngayon, pihado may tatamaan at may masasampahan,” USec. Olalia concluded.
Surveillance operations conducted by the MWPB revealed that IBFL has been illegally recruiting their Japanese language graduates as farmers, caregivers, factory workers, and food processing workers in Japan with salaries ranging from Php 80,000 to Php 100,000.
The closure operation on IBFL stemmed from a complaint filed by a job applicant who sought help from MWPB. The complainant is one of the graduates of IBFL who was recruited to work in Japan and paid more than P57,000 to cover his plane ticket, service fee, and visa processing.
Meanwhile, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed his full support in combating illegal recruitment and immediately ordered the cancellation of the business permit and license of IBFL.
“Their permit is 2018 but due to the pandemic hindi rin nakapag full blast ang operation with received the complaints 2 or 3 months ago na complaint nila and then need follow ups and investigations so that we will be able to establish kung ano talaga ang klaro sa imbestigasyon, klaro rin sa operation na ginawa ng mga operatiba natin sa pakikipagtulungan rin ng lokal ng pamahalaan na may illegal nga na moves na ginagawa nila,” ASec de Guzman said.
With its closure, IBFL’s officers and employees will be included in DMW’s List of Persons and Establishments with Derogatory Record to prevent them from participating in the government’s overseas recruitment program.
The DMW will also file a case of syndicated illegal recruitment against the officers and employees of the training center.
The DMW is urging other applicants who fell victim to IBFL’s illegal activities to contact the MWPB for the filing of cases. MWPB may be contacted through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip and through their email at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph. ### Photo by: Mario Oclaman //Filipino News Sentinel
