NBI raids Malate firm for alleged illegal recruitment

Government agents on Tuesday raided a recruitment firm in Malate district in Manila for allegedly operating without the necessary license, an exclusive report on “24 Oras” said.

The report said agents from the National Bureau of Investigation's Anti-Trafficking Division seized passports and application forms from the Abu Talent Management Inc. during the raid.

The NBI raided the firm after it learned that it was still recruiting workers for a factory in Saudi Arabia despite having its license-to-operate suspended in 2013.



The agency's owner, Saudi national Abdul Hussein Muhammad, denied that they were accepting new recruits.

Victims of the agency, meanwhile, appealed to authorities to help them get their passports and money back, with some saying their money was borrowed or earned from selling multiple properties.

NBI officials Dante Bonoan and Ruel Lasala warned Filipinos who want to work overseas to double-check their agencies before going abroad in order to avoid possible difficulties.

"Delikado 'yun dahil lalabas ka, undocumented ka. Lumabas ka dito sa bansa na walang permit from the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administartion)," said Bonoan.

Lasala added, "Doble ingat po tayo sa paghahanap ng trabaho sa ibang bansa. Hindi porket foreign national ay okay yan. Mag-check po muna tayo sa POEA dahil yan po ang ahensya na magsasabi kung lehitimo o hindi ang isang recruiter."

The POEA maintains a list of valid recruitment agencies online. — Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News