By Marita Moaje
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday shut down a Pasig City-based travel and visa consultancy firm for alleged illegal recruitment for caregiving jobs in the United States using tourist visas.
In an interview during the operation, Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the closure order against State 101 Travel Visa Consultancy was issued after surveillance operations confirmed recruitment activities and the collection of exorbitant fees from jobseekers.
He said the DMW received several complaints from victims who claimed they were deceived into paying PHP90,000 to PHP150,000 for jobs with a USD1,800 monthly salary, free housing and food in the U.S.
“May kasama tayong 4 na biktima at yung isa ay hayagang magsasalita para share niya paano siya niloko nitong ating ipasasara ngayong araw na ito. Kasama rin natin ang representatives ng PNP dito sa Santa Lucia, Pasig City (We have with us four victims, and one of them will share how they were deceived by this agency we are shutting down today. We also have representatives from the PNP here in Santa Lucia, Pasig City),” he said.
Online ads
One complainant, a single mother from Zamboanga del Norte, said she was lured to apply after seeing a Facebook advertisement promoting caregiver jobs in America.
“Nakita ko yung advertisement nila sa Facebook tapos nagpa-interview ako kasi nakalagay doon going to America as a caretaker. Nakalagay sa advertisement (I saw their advertisement on Facebook, and then I applied for an interview because it said there that they were going to America as a caretaker. The advertisement states that there is) free food, free accommodation, with allowance,” she said.
In April 2025, she said she was invited to an orientation where recruiters presented video calls showing supposed living quarters and work facilities in the U.S.
“Sabi niya sa akin USD1,800 ang sasahurin namin (I was told we would receive USD1,800 as salary),” the complainant said.
The woman said she was asked to pay a PHP100,000 processing fee, which will be discounted by PHP10,000 if she pays within two days.
The victim said she borrowed money from her sister and sent the payment via Cebuana Lhuillier.
She later learned that she was only being processed for a tourist visa, not a legal work visa.
In December 2025, she said her visa application was denied during an interview at the U.S. Embassy.
No recruitment license
DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Pampolina said victims paid between PHP75,000 and PHP90,000 for what they believed were processing fees, while some were allegedly told the cost could reach PHP150,000.
“Nagre-recruit sila, walang lisensya, galing sa Department of Migrant Workers, so yun pa lang violation na yun (They are recruiting, without a license, coming from the Department of Migrant Workers, so that’s already a violation),” Pampolina said.
He added that the agency’s surveillance confirmed that recruitment, training sessions and payment collections were being conducted inside the consultancy’s office.
Olalia said the company was operating as a legitimate travel agency with business permits but had no authority to recruit workers for overseas jobs.
“State 101 pangalan ng travel agency ito, lehitimo, kasi nakita natin meron silang BIR permit, meron silang DTI permit, pero illegal recruiter dahil nag re-recruit, nag ha-hire, nagde-deploy ng walang lisensya galing sa DMW (this is the name of the travel agency, legitimate, because we saw that they have a BIR permit, they have a DTI permit, but they are illegal recruiters because they recruit, hire and deploy without a license from the DMW),” Olalia said.
He said the firm primarily used Facebook advertisements to attract aspiring overseas workers from different parts of the country, including Zamboanga del Norte, Laguna and Manila.
Olalia warned that Filipinos who enter the United States using tourist visas in hopes of finding work could face serious risks and exploitation.
The DMW is preparing charges for large-scale illegal recruitment and syndicated estafa against the company’s owners and employees.
Olalia urged aspiring overseas workers to verify all overseas job offers with the agency and to avoid relying on advertisements circulating on Facebook, TikTok and messaging platforms, as they may be victimized by illegal recruiters. (PNA)
