Manila: The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has raised an alarm for Filipinos seeking employment abroad, cautioning them against emerging human trafficking schemes that promise overseas jobs but ultimately force them into military service in foreign countries.
According to Philippines News Agency, this warning was released in conjunction with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) following a confirmed case where victims were duped with job offers and then coerced into joining foreign military forces. Reports from the 1343 Actionline, the main human trafficking hotline of IACAT, indicate that individuals were initially recruited for employment, but upon reaching undisclosed foreign locations, their job contracts were altered, leading to mandatory military service.
The IACAT is actively investigating a verified recruitment case linked to this scheme. In response, the CFO is enhancing its efforts to educate potential migrants about the dangers of illegal recruitment and the risks associated with undocumented status, especially in regions experiencing geopolitical turmoil.
Under the provisions of Republic Act 9208, known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, and its amendments through RA 10364 and RA 11862, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 and 2022, the IACAT is tasked with safeguarding Filipinos from exploitation. The CFO emphasized that overseas job offers lacking verified contracts from the Department of Migrant Workers are high-risk, urging Filipinos to be extremely cautious when engaging with recruiters.
Despite the Philippines maintaining its Tier 1 status in the U.S. State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report, which confirms that the government meets the minimum standards for the eradication of trafficking, the CFO highlighted that these new schemes represent a troubling change in trafficking methods. This situation demands increased alertness and a more robust inter-agency response.
The CFO also recalled its previous advisory issued in February regarding the rise in recruitment of Filipinos for deployment to foreign conflict zones, and encouraged the prompt reporting of any suspected trafficking cases through the IACAT 1343 hotline.
