DMW shuts down 2 visa consultancy

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Friday shut down a visa consultancy firm in Cebu City and a Japanese language training center in Mandaue City after surveillance operations uncovered alleged illegal recruitment activities and schemes that victimized aspiring overseas workers.

Leading the enforcement operations was DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, who personally placed closure orders on the establishments alongside other DMW officials, local government representatives, and law enforcement authorities.

The establishments ordered closed were Anaya US Visa Consultancy Inc., located at Meridian by Avenir along Golam Drive in Mabolo, Cebu City, and JLPT/JFT Training and Assessment Center on A.S. Fortuna Street in Bakilid, Mandaue City.

According to DMW, both establishments were allegedly engaging in recruitment and placement activities for overseas employment without the licenses and authority required under Philippine law.

“We are here to implement the closure order because of the result of our anti-trafficking and anti-illegal recruitment program,” DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said during the operation.

“After conducting several surveillances, napatunayan po na itong opisinang ito ay nag-violate po ng ating DMW rules. Number one, wala po silang lisensya from the DMW. Pangalawa, sila po ay nagde-deploy ng mga workers going to the United States of America (USA) and Finland under the guise of having a license,” he added.

DMW investigators said Anaya US Visa Consultancy Inc., while operating as a legitimate visa consultancy business, allegedly crossed into illegal recruitment by offering overseas jobs in the United States and Finland despite lacking a recruitment license.

Authorities said the company allegedly promised employment opportunities under the H-2A and H-2B visa programs for seasonal agricultural and other temporary workers, offering wages ranging from USD 14 to USD 18 per hour along with employment benefits.

The DMW said applicants were allegedly charged processing and placement fees ranging from P150,000 to P300,000 for documentation, visa processing, and deployment assistance.

Surveillance conducted by DMW operatives, including undercover personnel posing as applicants, reportedly revealed that workers were being offered temporary employment in Dubai while waiting for the approval of their U.S. visas.

The DMW disclosed that some victims had already been deployed abroad and that the agency is coordinating with its migrant workers offices in Dubai and the United States to locate and assist affected Filipinos.

The closure operation, conducted jointly with local government authorities, also seeks the cancellation of the establishment’s permits due to the alleged violations.

The Cebu City Legal Office likewise said the temporary permit previously issued to the consultancy would be revoked.

Despite the allegations, representatives of the visa consultancy told authorities they respected and understood the government's enforcement action and the legal process.

Earlier in the day, DMW officials also shut down the JLPT/JFT Training and Assessment Center after surveillance operations allegedly found that it was recruiting workers under the guise of providing Japanese language training.

According to the DMW, the center allegedly promised guaranteed overseas employment and required trainees to complete its language program before being referred to partner recruitment agencies.

Authorities said the center collected processing fees ranging from P50,000 to P100,000.

“Nandito tayo para ipagpatuloy ang ating mahigpit na pagpapaigting ng enforcement ng anti-illegal recruitment law,” Cacdac said.

“Hindi lang sila nagte-train for Japanese language. Meron silang referrals and endorsements to private recruitment agencies,” he added.

The secretary said undercover surveillance operations showed that the establishment was processing applicants and endorsing them to licensed recruitment agencies despite having no recruitment authority from the DMW.

DMW officials added that the training center also appeared to lack the necessary permits from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), prompting the agency to endorse the matter for further investigation.

In a separate interview, Atty. August Lizer Malate, head of the Mandaue City Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), confirmed that the city government will revoke all permits issued to the language training center due to reports of misrepresentation regarding the nature of its business and clear evidence of alleged illegal activities being conducted.

During the closure operation, authorities found six students attending classes at the language center.

The students, mostly in their 20s, told reporters they enrolled after seeing advertisements on Facebook and paid around P22,000 for a four-month Japanese language course in hopes of eventually working abroad.

Several students expressed disappointment over the time and money they had invested in the program.

The DMW assured the students that assistance, including possible training and job facilitation programs, would be made available through the agency and its partner government offices.

Meanwhile, the agency said both establishments would face administrative and criminal proceedings.

Officials said affidavits and statements from complainants and victims are being gathered in preparation for filing cases before the Department of Justice.

“We will file charges of illegal recruitment, and if warranted based on the records that they conducted illegal recruitment against three or more individuals or victims, then it will be a charge for illegal recruitment on a large scale,” Cacdac said.

He noted that large scale illegal recruitment carries the penalty of life imprisonment and is a non-bailable offense.

The secretary also warned the public to be wary of agencies that promise overseas jobs without valid DMW licenses, demand excessive fees, conduct transactions exclusively online, or fail to provide legitimate employment contracts.

DMW-7 Director Jhoaden Lucero likewise urged applicants to verify recruitment agencies and job offers through official DMW channels before signing any documents or making payments.

Under Philippine law, illegal recruitment and human trafficking are punishable under the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, both of which impose severe criminal penalties on violators.

The DMW reported that it shut down 32 establishments nationwide in 2025 and has already closed 12 this year as part of its continuing campaign against illegal recruitment and trafficking. (CEBU NEWS)