Beware of trafficking to Canada

There is a new illegal recruitment syndicate using a new trafficking route for Filipino women to Canada via Taiwan.

Scores of victims trooped to my office in Taichung, Taiwan to complain that they were milked an average of five thousand US dollars each, on the promise of lucrative jobs in Canada. After collecting all these money, the trafficker disappeared into thin air.

These workers have existing work contracts in Taiwan. They have been enticed to abandon their commitments here in search of higher-paying jobs in Canada. After they have paid, these poor workers lost their money, lost their jobs and are now looking up to us, in government to solve their problem. The scalawag has already run away with a lot of money, perhaps a total of a million US dollars, taken from gullible and naive Filipino workers. The money were borrowed, loaned, and obtained by the workers by selling their houses, mortgaging their land or falling for the nefarious practices of usurers.

These illegal traffickers should be hanged

The crime committed by these scoundrels constitute multiple economic sabotage, and a crime against the poor people with various aggravating circumstances. They abused the poor workers' lack of full knowledge and implications. By schemes and machinations, by false pretenses and fraudulent lies, with evident intention to defraud these people, and with premeditation, by misleading combinations and conspiracies, they defrauded these highly gullible persons and run away with their loot.

I have submitted my report to higher authorities, with documentary evidence and testimonial proofs. I have taken the pains of getting the affidavits of the complainants. I have reproduced their documents and interviewed them intensively and extensively. I have taken a vow to go after these rascals even it I am alone. I shall have them arrested, charged, prosecuted and convicted, then meted the highest penalty that the law can possibly impose.

The workers are at fault too

We can think of all the justifications to excuse them from their gullibility, from their imprudence, their lack of foresight and their lack of sophistication in discerning the evil schemes laid before them. But, if we are fair enough, we can not entirely acquit the workers. They too were responsible for some very apparent recklessness.

They parted their hard-earned money to strangers, without checking the credentials of these scarlatans. They paid big amounts without demanding for a receipt. They trusted persons they just meet for the first time. They did not bother to call the labor attache, they did not consult any lawyer in the Philippines. They did not check with the POEA website. They just gave the money and did not even exercise simple diligence in determining whether the scheme being offered was legal and whether the person was licensed to recruit.

The tragedy of the Filipino workers is that they are so desperate for overseas jobs that they take very high risks and when they lose, they dump all their woes on the lap of the government. And whenever government fails to catch the thief, it becomes the villain. Of course, government again would be lambasted for lack of jobs in the domestic labor market. Government would be blamed for everything including typhoons and population explosion.

But, come on, do you really believe that the individual Filipino is without any fault or negligence? This syndicate, this evil scheme, this illegal trafficking wouldn't succeed if people are more vigilant, more careful and more discerning. Huwag nang kumapit sa patalim. Masusugatan ka talaga. At kung may sugat na, hwag maninisi ng iba. Take responsibility for your own acts and decisions.