by Larry Lopez


TABUK, Kalinga -- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provincial head Avelina Manganip warned overseas job seekers of easy and big offers from unknown recruiters, lest they fall into job traps of drug syndicates.

Manganip issued this warning in the wake of reports of overseas job seekers lured by offers through the web from unknown recruiters promising high paying jobs, easy deployment and who later become drug couriers.
She called these as job traps, which are not easy to resist especially by Filipino job seekers, who are in dire need of work or money to support their families. She emphasized on securing proper documents with the DOLE as the safest way of getting job deployments in foreign countries.

She asked applicants to always verify and check whether these recruiting agencies are properly registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA) or with their office.

“There are no short-cuts to countries abroad especially for one who is seeking employment, stressing the need to secure work visa and employment contract before deployment,” Manganip said.

Manganip pointed out reports on abuse, maltreatments, cultural discrimination and crimes committed against overseas Filipino workers who illegally sneaked into host countries.

She warned people who are fond of engaging in social media through the internet, which she said is commonly used as ploy by drug syndicates to lure victims.

Syndicates use the social media to befriend, court and even marry individuals whom they use as drug mules to other countries in the guise as OFWs, Manganip said.

"Even in our most-wanting situation, we should not trust just anybody we do not know for an act with extra-high pay," she said.


“In case somebody is giving this kind of offer, let us immediately report this to the authorities before innocent individuals are lured into their job traps,” Manganip advised.

Last week, three Filipinos were sentenced to lethal injection in China because of drugs cases. *(PIA-CAR/Kalinga)