Illegal Recruitment Victims Return Home

3 victims of illegal recruitment to return to Philippines
Friday, 04 July 2008 00:00 By Junhan B. Todeno - Variety News Staff
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THREE of the five Filipino guest worker who came here as “tourists” will return to the Philippines on Saturday after the Department of Labor decided not to renew their temporary work authorization.

Former Speaker Vicente M. Sablan, who was their sponsor, said he has already arranged the flight of Darwin A. Viloria, Noelito Jumawan and Romeo Tesorero.

“They have been pushing me to accommodate their request to go home because they have problem with their families,” Sablan told Variety.

Two others — Gilbert Oandasan and Carlos Ramos —have been hired as security guards by the Quichocho Security Agency, but they will get their repatriation tickets once their temporary work authorization expires.

Sablan said he has been providing the basic necessities of Viloria and his companions since they arrived on Saipan for jobs that did not exist.

Their stay in the CNMI, however, has been questioned by the Department of Labor as they claim to be victims of illegal recruitment in the Philippines.

The “tourists” are allowed to stay in the CNMI for 30 days only, but Labor Director Barry Hirshbein said their stay was extended for “simple humanitarian reason.”

The “tourist” cannot file a labor complaint and they were considered by Labor as “cooperative witnesses.”

Sablan noted that Viloria and his companions arrived here as tourists but didn’t have round-trip tickets.

According to Consul Belinda M. Ante of the Philippine Consulate General on Saipan, Consul General Wilfredo DL Maximo has already informed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to extend any assistance to Viloria and his companions if they will file a case against their recruiter.

Upon their arrival in the Philippines, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration may temporarily take custody of the “tourists” while preparing the complaint against their recruiter, Yolanda Alfante of Pasay City, Metro Manila.

Viloria told Variety that he was determined to press charges against Alfante, who, he added, was now recruiting Filipino workers for Guam.

Viloria was among the 12 “tourists” brought here by Alfante who received placement fees from them amounting up to $2,000 per person.

Seven of them have already returned to the Philippines.