Pasig city: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has closed a travel and visa consultancy firm based in Pasig City for allegedly engaging in illegal recruitment activities related to caregiving jobs in the United States, utilizing tourist visas.
According to Philippines News Agency, the closure order against State 101 Travel Visa Consultancy followed surveillance operations that confirmed the firm's recruitment activities and the collection of substantial fees from jobseekers. Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia explained that the DMW received multiple complaints from victims who claimed they were misled into paying PHP90,000 to PHP150,000 for jobs offering a USD1,800 monthly salary, along with free housing and food in the U.S.
Olalia noted that four victims were present during the operation, with one willing to share their experience of being deceived by the agency. Representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) were also involved in the operation in Santa Lucia, Pasig City.
One complainant, a single mother from Zamboanga del Norte, was enticed to apply after seeing a Facebook advertisement promoting caregiver jobs in America. She attended an orientation in April 2025, where recruiters showcased supposed living quarters and work facilities in the U.S. She was informed about a USD1,800 salary and asked to pay a PHP100,000 processing fee, discounted by PHP10,000 if paid promptly. She borrowed the money and sent it via Cebuana Lhuillier, only to later discover that she was being processed for a tourist visa rather than a legal work visa. Her visa application was ultimately denied at the U.S. Embassy in December 2025.
DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Pampolina highlighted that victims paid varying amounts, believing they were processing fees, with some being informed that costs could rise to PHP150,000. Pampolina emphasized that the agency was operating without a recruitment license from the DMW, which constitutes a violation. Surveillance confirmed that recruitment, training sessions, and payment collections occurred within the consultancy's office.
Olalia pointed out that while State 101 Travel Visa Consultancy operated as a legitimate travel agency with necessary business permits, it lacked the authority to recruit workers for overseas jobs. The firm predominantly used Facebook advertisements to lure aspiring overseas workers from regions such as Zamboanga del Norte, Laguna, and Manila.
Olalia warned that Filipinos entering the United States on tourist visas in search of work may face severe risks and exploitation. The DMW is preparing charges for large-scale illegal recruitment and syndicated estafa against the company's owners and employees. He urged aspiring overseas workers to verify all job offers with the agency and to be cautious of advertisements circulating on social media and messaging platforms, as these may be tactics employed by illegal recruiters.
