July 1, 2026
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), in coordination with the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, has shut down a consultancy firm in Sta. Ana, Manila and arrested two alleged illegal recruiters following complaints of fraudulent job offers for Poland.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, together with Undersecretary Bernard Olalia and Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara of the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), led the entrapment and enforcement operation of Closure Order 24, series of 2026, against Venancia Consultancy PTY Ltd./Venancia International Manpower, Inc. on Tuesday.
Authorities arrested Jomalyn Baya Fisher and Glydel Sayon and identified Rina Songahid Bench and Arlyn Rodriguez as their alleged cohorts.
The operation was carried out in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and jobseekers against illegal recruitment and labor exploitation.
In a news release on Wednesday, the DMW said the suspects allegedly made it appear that Venancia is authorized to deploy workers to Poland for jobs as welders and factory workers, and asked applicants to pay PHP300,000 as processing fee.
The victims were promised a monthly salary of 1,200 euros.
However, DMW verification found that while Bench and Fisher were recruitment officers of a licensed recruitment agency, they were not connected with Venancia Consultancy/Venancia International Manpower.
The DMW also said that the recruitment agency being represented by the suspects had no approved job order for Poland, rendering the job offers illegal.
The suspects are facing illegal recruitment charges and will be included in the DMW List of Persons and Entities with Derogatory Record.
The DMW will also recommend the cancellation of Venancia’s business permit with the Manila city government and the cancellation of the company’s registration with the Department of Trade and Industry.
Meanwhile, the MWPB called on other individuals who may have been victimized by Venancia or by Bench, Fisher, Rodriguez, and Sayon to come forward and seek free legal assistance by contacting the bureau through its official Facebook page.
The DMW reminded aspiring overseas workers to verify first whether a recruitment agency is licensed, authorized, and has an approved job order before paying any fees or accepting employment offers abroad. (PNA)