9 recruiters face charges for sending workers to Syria

MANILA, Philippines - Nine recruiters are facing criminal charges for illegally deploying overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Syria, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said yesterday.

POEA chief Hans Cacdac said they have also suspended the licenses to operate of 12 recruitment agencies for defying the deployment ban to Syria.

Cacdac identified those charged with illegal recruitment as Aida Pinagayan, Zoraida Salem, Nora Valadi, Fatima Sabulawan, Marlyn de la Cruz, Crislyn Noble, Juliet de la Fuente, Jake Munib, and Olivia Dayao.

According to Cacdac, they have assisted 26 victims of illegal recruitment in the filing of charges against the suspects.

On the other hand, the agencies with expired, suspended or cancelled licenses are HRHA Manpower International, Inc.; Miss Diamond Star International Manpower Services, Inc.; MMM International Placement Corp.; Multi-System Conexions International, Inc.; LFC International Human Resources; RCS Promotions and Overseas Placement, Inc.; MSS Talent Management  Services, Inc.; Greengate Manpower Services Co.; and RCS Promotion and Overseas Placement, Inc.

The Philippine government had earlier banned the deployment of workers to Syria due to prevailing hostilities there. The government has also ordered the repatriation of all Filipino workers from Syria.

Cacdac urged other victims who were recruited for jobs in Syria during the ban period to come forward and file cases against the recruiters.