15 illegal recruitment victims rescued

MANILA, Philippines - Fifteen men and women were rescued from a recruitment agency’s office in Ermita, Manila yesterday.

Eric Nuqui, who heads the National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Human Trafficking Division, said the 15 jobseekers were promised jobs as household helpers in other countries by Tu Em International Manpower Corp., whose office is at the ground floor of the Agapito Condominium along Agoncillo street. The agency reportedly uses the building’s third and fourth floors as quarters for their applicants.

The agency reportedly asks money from applicants to cover their plane fare, meals and accommodation.

The raid stemmed from a complaint by four women who said the agency refused to give back their passports and would not allow them to transfer to another agency. They said they learned that the firm’s license was revoked two years ago. – Evelyn Macairan, Rey Galupo