Senator alarmed over illegal recruitment surge

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May 2, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  Sen. Raffy Tulfo has expressed concern over the increasing number of Filipinos falling victim to illegal recruitment, human trafficking and scams.

During the recent joint hearing of the Senate committee on labor and employment and human resources development and the committee on migrant workers, both of which he chairs, Tulfo emphasized that many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) lost their jobs due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, forcing them to return home without stable sources of income.

He further noted that with many businesses still struggling to recover or shutting down, Filipinos are increasingly turning to online job offers in hopes of securing employment. However, he said this trend has created opportunities for illegal recruiters to expand their human trafficking schemes, particularly as many job seekers are in desperate situations.

Tulfo cited a case involving three former female OFWs in Malaysia who sought the assistance of his office after allegedly being forced to become sex workers, contrary to what was stated in their contracts as massage therapists. According to their testimony, the spa business served merely as a front, and they were unaware that their actual work would involve sexual services. They also alleged that, at times, their drinks were laced with powder or the drug ecstasy before they were exploited.

The senator from Davao and Isabela described the incident as “unacceptable” and strongly called for stricter monitoring by government agencies, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Labor and Employment, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, to curb the proliferation of illegal online recruitment activities.

Tulfo also said the DMW should require OFWs seeking employment as singers, dancers or entertainers to secure certification from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. This, he said, would help ensure their qualifications and allow authorities to verify the legitimacy of their deployment sites, reducing the risk of exploitation abroad.

The senator reiterated his directive for the DMW to implement strict post-deployment monitoring of OFWs, noting that despite previous orders, many workers in distress still go unnoticed.

Lastly, Tulfo ordered the respective agencies, particularly DMW and National Bureau of Investigation, to immediately file charges against bogus and fly-by-night recruitment agencies he has already reported to them, stressing the need to hold perpetrators accountable and put an end to widespread illegal recruitment and human trafficking operations.