Manila: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has shut down a travel agency and its partner licensed recruitment agency in Ermita, Manila, for alleged illegal recruitment activities offering jobs in Poland. The DMW's Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), together with the Manila Police District (MPD), padlocked the offices of Reiven Air Travel and Tours Consultancy OPC and its partner recruitment agency, Reliable Recruitment Corporation, under Closure Order 15 and 16, Series of 2025.

According to Philippines News Agency, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, who led the operation, stated that the travel consultancy was conducting recruitment activities without the required license, violating Republic Act 10022, which prohibits travel agencies from engaging in recruitment. Meanwhile, the recruitment agency was offering jobs in Poland without a properly approved job order.

Maj. Jake Arcilla explained that the MPD had conducted surveillance operations since last month before setting up the entrapment operation. The operation was successful when the agency's cashier accepted PHP70,000, the amount they were demanding as a processing fee.

DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara revealed that two applicants of Reiven and Reliable had complained to the DMW about paying PHP70,000 but not being able to leave for Poland. The agencies promised jobs as fruit pickers, factory workers, drivers, and other positions, in connivance with a recruitment agency. Alcantara noted that although Reliable was licensed, it only had a job order for mushroom pickers, not other roles.

During the entrapment, the DMW and MPD confiscated documents of at least 14 applicants scheduled for deployment as early as July 8. Olalia mentioned the need to verify if these applicants truly had jobs since their job order was not registered. He highlighted discrepancies in promised salaries versus registered contracts, further indicating illegal recruitment activities.

The MPD arrested the person who received the marked money, along with other staff members of the travel agency. Officials and staff of Reiven and Reliable now face illegal recruitment charges and will be placed on the DMW's derogatory record list. The DMW will also recommend revoking their business registrations with the Securities and Exchange Commission and canceling their business permits with the city government of Manila.