Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12) — Victims of an alleged large-scale illegal recruitment scheme trooped to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday to file a case against the CEO of an employment agency that is supposedly asking over ₱100,000 from each of its clients who wish to leave the country.
The victims filed complaints against former Cebu City Councilor Prisca Nina Mabatid, CEO of Pinoy Cares Visa Center (PCVC) Opportunities, whom they claim has been recruiting and deceiving people, including overseas Filipino workers, for job opportunities in other countries like Canada.
“Ang reklamo po ng ating mga biktima sila ay niloko sa isang skema na bibigyan sila ng pagkakataon na i-process ang kanilang student visa sa Canada at mabibigyan sila ng pagkakataon magtrabaho at mag-aral at tumira sa Canada kasama ang kanyang pamilya,” said Joanna Concepcion, chairperson of migrants’ rights group Migrante International.
Sinisingil po sila ng at least ₱104,500 dito sa Pilipinas, overseas mas higit pa doon,” she also said.
[Translation: Our victims said they were deceived by being told their student visa in Canada will be processed and they will have the chance to work, study, and live there with their family. They were asked to pay at least ₱104,500 here in the Philippines, and the amount is even higher overseas.]
According to the victims, they were easily convinced by PCVC to apply for a student visa in Canada because it promised a processing period of only three months for all immigration documents of applicants and their families.
“Isa sa mga pangako niya na within three months, makakaalis na kami sa Pilipinas at makakatrabaho na kami sa Canada,” said Ronell Robles, one of the complainants.
[Translation: One of her promises was that within three months, we will be able to leave the Philippines and work in Canada.]
The victims alleged that upon payment, they were asked to sign a memorandum of agreement indicating that the amount is non-refundable.
The complainants said Mabatid’s company stopped responding to questions and concerns afterwards.
“Within three days, nag send sila ng email,” Robles related. “‘Yung requirements, na-compile ko naman. Tumatawag naman ako, hindi ko makontak. Halos araw-araw ako tumatawag di ako sinasagot.”
[Translation: Within three days, they sent an email. I was able to compile the requirements. I called, but they cannot be contacted. I called almost everyday, but there was no response.]
The victims said they learned about the recruitment through social media posts of their local public employment service office.
Pictures of Mabatid with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Senator Raffy Tulfo were also used by her company to convince people, the victims also said.
Mabatid has yet to answer calls to explain her side.
CNN Philippines has also tried reaching out to the Department of Labor and Employment and the DMW but they have yet to verify the legitimacy of PCVC.
