POEA: 100 Pinoy jobseekers stranded in Macau

At least 100 Filipinos are reportedly stranded in Macau after falling victim to illegal recruiters, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said. POEA administrator Carlos Cao Jr. cited reports reaching him that the 100 prospective overseas Filipino workers “are now stranded in China without the promised employment." This should remind job applicants to be cautious of recruitment agencies that offer employment at Macau’s hotels and casinos, he said. “Jobseekers should apply only at agencies that have job orders approved by the POEA." The agencies’ license status and the available job orders could be checked at the POEA website — www.poea.gov.ph — or through telephone numbers 7221144 and 7221155. Meanwhile, Cao maintained the POEA has no lending facility for overseas Filipino workers. He issued the reminder after a suspected fixer was arrested for allegedly collecting fees from applicants for a supposed POEA cash loan. Cao said a couple from Zamboanga City sought help from POEA security when the alleged fixer, identified as Ronnie Soner, failed to give them the amount they were borrowing. Investigation showed that Soner allegedly collected from the couple P8,750 as “processing fee" for a P30,000 loan to be released last July 20. The victims said they were applying for a loan at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration main office in Pasay City last July 12, when Soner approached them. Soner allegedly convinced them they can get a loan faster from the POEA than from OWWA. Sonera was arrested July 29 and brought to the Mandaluyong City police office. — JE, GMA News