MANILA, Philippines – A lawmaker pushed for an inquiry into the forging of documents such as diplomas and school transcripts along Claro M. Recto Avenue “Recto University” in Manila.
The author of House Resolution 2230, Rep. Leah Paquiz of party-list ANG NARS described “Recto University” as a one-stop shop for those who resort to “manufactured” documents for employment and other purposes.
“It is public knowledge that documents such as identification cards, receipts, school transcripts, diplomas and documents supposedly authenticated with red ribbon by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) or any other forged documents can be sourced at Recto University for a fee and in a few hours,” Paquiz said.
Paquiz called on the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs to conduct investigation on the damaging activities at the Recto University and asked the government to cooperate with private sectors and other agencies to stop the illegal activities such as faking of documents along Recto University.
Paquiz said the illegal practice has placed Filipino professionals and skilled workers within the country and abroad in a disadvantageous position as their images get tainted with deceit.
“The Recto University is in itself passively allowing discrimination to proliferate against our workers as we are being branded as fraudulent workers,” Paquiz said.
Paquiz cited that the data gathered by the Saudi Council of Engineers showed that there are several Filipinos working as engineers and architects in Saudi Arabia who used fraudulent documents that in 2015 alone, there were 497 Filipino engineers and architects found to be using fake credentials.
The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also reported that they are currently handling criminal cases alleging the involvement of Filipinos who used fake credentials entering Saudi.
Paquiz said there is one Filipino nurse in Jeddah facing criminal prosecution for the felony of forgery of documents as well as stiffer penalties and prison terms for malpractice charges.
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