House eyes sanction vs. recruitment firm

CEBU, Philippines – The House committee on overseas workers affairs wants sanction to be imposed against Be Glad Worldwide Placement Agency, the firm that sent 23 Cebuano workers last year to Trinidad and Tobago where they were detained for lack of proper working documents.

The workers went to Trinidad and Tobago in three batches after they were hired by a Tobago-based construction firm through Be Glad Worldwide, which is based in Cebu City.

The first batch left on June 12 and worked for Mcphee Anderson of Multi Task Construction in Tobago without permits.

They were reportedly only given visa waivers on the assurance by Be Glad that the employer would process their working visa there.

Cebu fifth district Representative Ramon “Red” Durano VI, who filed the resolution urging for a House inquiry into the plight of the OFWs, said the ordeal of the workers was aggravated when the preventive suspension on the placement firm was lifted by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)

Of the 23 Cebuanos, 14 are from Camotes Island which is under the district of Durano.

During the hearing, committee chair Rep. Manuel Zamora asked the POEA to impose sanction against Be Glad Worldwide.

“There is no reason for POEA to delay the releasing of sanction on the agency because of the inconsistencies we found in the documents. The committee could even give sanction to the agency right away,” Zamora said.

Some of the “inconsistencies” the committee noticed were the date of authentication of the workers’ documents, which was July 14, 2008 when they left the country on June 11, 2008.

“I have received reports that aside from the 23 Cebuano OFWs, there are still other workers who experienced the same problem recruited by the same agency. Some opted to shoulder the fare to get home but the others remained in Tobago because they could not raise the plane fare amounting to P80,000 to P110,000. Is this not enough for POEA to consider and suspend their license?” Durano said.

Durano said the committee already sent an invitation to the owners of the recruitment agency to attend the hearing but they did not show up.

The owners of the recruitment firm were only represented by their lawyer, Antonio Cabreros, who informed the committee that they are out of the country.

But architect Jacqueline Anne Fortuna, one of the 23 OFWs, refuted Cabreros’ statement, saying that the BE Glad owners were just in Cebu.

“We have been waiting for BE Glad to discuss this pero wala gyud sila. Ila unta ming tabangan. Napuno mi sa mga utang, Fortuna said.

Durano said the committee would be sending another subpoena to Be Glad owners in the next hearing, which will be scheduled early this month.

POEA regional director Evilia Dorato assured the committee that they would come up with a decision within two months.

The Cebu provincial government shouldered the expenses for the return of the Cebuanos from Trinidad and Tobago. — Garry B. Lao/LPM (THE FREEMAN)