QCPD nabs illegal recruiter

MANILA, Philippines — A man engaged in illegal recruitment activities for non-existent jobs in Central Europe was arrested by operatives of the Quezon City Police District, the Department of Migrant Workers said.

According to the DMW, the arrest of Mazhoor Ubongin Khusin, also known as Maz, led to the rescue of 1,700 aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from falling prey to the recruitment officer’s fake job offers.

Khusin allegedly served as an officer of ALJU International Manpower Services, a recruitment agency that had previously faced regulatory sanctions after luring the would-be OFWs to pay excessive placement fees for jobs in Poland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic that were found to be non-existent.

The company also failed to refund the applicants of placement fees ranging from P80,000 to P130,000.

“The arrest of this illegal recruiter marks a significant development in the cases filed in connection with the recruitment scheme targeting our OFWs who simply want a better life for their families,” DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said in a statement.

The DMW reminded aspiring OFWs to exercise extreme caution when dealing with people who offer jobs overseas, especially when they demand substantial placement fees, promise unusually high salaries or guarantee visas, permanent residency or immediate deployment.