Labor group opposes replacement of POEA chief

MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Migrante Middle East yesterday expressed opposition to the replacement of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) administrator Carlos Cao Jr., saying he succeeded in streamlining the processes of the agency. 

In a statement, Migrante regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said that Cao’s replacement “manifests power-struggle” between top labor offcials.

Sources said that starting tomorrow, Cao will be replaced by Labor Undersecretary Hans Cacdac who already took his oath before Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz a few weeks ago.

The position to be vacated by Cacdac will be filled by Rebecca Chato, former head of the Bureau of Labor Relations.

Monterona said Cao was appointed as POEA chief because of his “unquestioned integrity and corrupt-free records of service” both in private and public positions held.

He said Cao had done a good job in streamlining the procedure of services to overseas Filipino workers and in reducing the occurrence of illegal recruitment by stopping the use of fake overseas employment certificate by returning OFWs.

“Such prevented a large-scale human smuggling and illegal trafficking activities by some alleged POEA corrupt officials in cahoots with illegal recruiters,” Monterona said.