Recruitment agency paid P500K to help OFW flee from Iraqi employer

The recruitment agency of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) had to shell out around P500,000 to the Iraqi employer to allow the Filipina to leave, according to Raffy Tima's report on "24 Oras."

Cielo Cacao said she was originally hired to work in Oman, but left her employer to go to Dubai, where a fellow OFW lured her to find employment in Iraq.

“Kahit may sakit, magtatrabaho kasi ‘pag hindi ka nagtrabaho, magugutom ka po kasi ‘yung pagkain doon hindi libre,” Cacao said, noting how her life turned miserable when she moved to Iraq.

According to her recruitment agency,  Cacao did not finish her contract in Oman.

Cacao told the agency that she would return home, but an official of the company said they were surprised when she asked to be rescued from Iraq.

“I can say po na hostage taking e, nag-ask po sila ng money kasi malamang si ate Cielo po, yung worker, ‘yung employer niya may binayad po siya doon sa Iraq para makuha siya. So, may contact din siya doon and malamang hindi papayag si employer na umuwi si ate Cielo na wala silang natatanggap na money,” Marinel Mayuyo, president of the Meja International Manpower Agency, said.

Cross-country employment has been a long-time issue among OFWs. Instead of returning home, OFWs move from one country to another in search of better pay.

“Hindi biro ang mag-asikaso ng isang cross-country dahil hindi ka basta basta maaasikaso ng embahada dahil wala kang mga records doon kaya very very alarming ito. Sa lahat ng aspeto kailangan pag-isipan muna ni overseas Filipino worker bago niya gawin ito,” David Castillon, the manpower agency's lawyer, said.

The Department of Migrant Workers said it has yet to receive a report on Cacao's case and her rescue from Iraq.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News