MANILA – The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration closed down a travel agency which was allegedly recruiting Filipinos to work abroad.
Deputy Administrator Amuerfina Reyes identified the travel agency as Jamea and Angels Travel Consultancy Services in Marikina City. She said POEA operatives reported that they have gathered evidence that Jamea Barreon, the agency owner, was recruiting workers.
She said POEA officers found passports and résumé of applicants and lists of job vacancies for Korea, Canada, Israel, Japan and New Zealand and framed photos of applicants “scheduled to depart” posted on the office walls.
Citing Republic Act No. 8042, she said travel agencies are not allowed to recruit and deploy Filipino overseas workers. Under the law, any act
of hiring Filipino workers when undertaken by one without license or authority from the POEA is considered illegal recruitment.
She said Barreon allegedly admitted to recruiting workers with the help of a man named Christian Benito whom she alleged to be an employee of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Reyes said the POEA is preparing charges of illegal recruitment against Barreon and her staff Julietta Capistrano.
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