DMW, CICC ink cooperation, resource sharing agreement

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would improve the protections given overseas Filipino workers against cyber-scammers. 

Under the MOA, the DMW and CICC will work together to curb illegal activities related to information and communications technology, according to Sam Nielsen’s dzBB Super Radyo report.

The agreement aims to boost interagency cooperation and resource sharing between the two agencies as well as to prevent and prosecute cybercrimes and crimes violating the Data Privacy Act. 

DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac and CICC Executive Director Alexander Ramos led the joint signing of the MOA. 

"Dati illegal recruitment lang now may investment scams consumer fraud… lilinlangin [ang mga OFW] para makunan ng pera and drain their hard-earned resources," said Cacdac in Mariz Umali's Monday 24 Oras report.

"Sa laki ng halaga na pumapasok maraming butas na puwedeng pagsamantalahan ang ating mga kababayan," added Ramos.

Because of the MOU, overseas Filipino workers who have been scammed can report the matter by calling the 1326 hotline, or scan a QR code, and speak with a CICC Interagency Response Center agent.

The OFWs report would then be assessed and forwarded to the proper division for immediate investigation. 

Meanwhile, the MOU also targets to speed up the digitization process of the DMW.

The CICC, for its part, said it will help the DMW in illegal recruitment and trafficking-in-person case records, and digitization efforts. — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News