Senator Raffy Tulfo has raised concern over the increasing number of Filipinos falling victim to illegal recruitment, human trafficking, and job scams.
During a joint Senate hearing, Tulfo said many OFWs lost their jobs due to the Middle East crisis and returned home without stable income, pushing them to look for work online where illegal recruiters are taking advantage.
He cited the case of three former OFWs in Malaysia who claimed they were forced into sex work despite being hired as massage therapists. They said the spa was only a front and alleged they were sometimes drugged before being exploited.
Tulfo called the situation unacceptable and urged tighter monitoring by agencies such as DICT, DOLE, BI, DMW, and IACAT to curb illegal online recruitment.
He also pushed for stricter rules for OFWs applying as entertainers, including TESDA certification to help verify their qualifications and job sites.
The senator renewed his call for stronger post-deployment monitoring, noting that many distressed workers still go unnoticed.
Tulfo also urged authorities to immediately file cases against illegal recruiters, saying fly by night agencies must be held accountable to stop the growing trafficking problem.IMT
