MANILA — Philippine authorities shuttered a travel consultancy in suburban Manila on Thursday, accusing it of illegally recruiting workers for caregiving jobs in the United States and collecting tens of thousands of pesos in fraudulent fees.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) issued a closure order against State 101 Travel Visa Consultancy, based in Pasig City, following surveillance operations that confirmed the firm was conducting recruitment activities and collecting fees without a government license to deploy overseas workers.
DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the agency had received multiple complaints from victims who were promised caregiver positions in the U.S. with a monthly salary of $1,800, along with free housing and food. Victims paid between 90,000 and 150,000 Philippine pesos — roughly $1,600 to $2,700 — in processing fees, authorities said.
“They are recruiting without a license from the Department of Migrant Workers — so that’s already a violation,” said DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Pampolina.
Facebook Ads Used to Recruit Victims
Authorities say the firm relied heavily on social media advertising, using Facebook posts to target aspiring overseas workers from regions including Zamboanga del Norte, Laguna and Manila.
One complainant, a single mother from Zamboanga del Norte, told authorities she responded to a Facebook advertisement promising caregiver work in America with free food, free accommodation and a monthly allowance. She said she attended an orientation in April 2025 where recruiters showed video calls of supposed U.S. living quarters and work facilities.
She was asked to pay a 100,000-peso processing fee — reduced by 10,000 pesos if paid within two days. She borrowed the money from her sister and sent it via money transfer service Cebuana Lhuillier.
It was only later that she discovered she had been processed for a tourist visa, not a legal work authorization. In December 2025, her visa application was denied at the U.S. Embassy.
Legitimate Permits, Illegal Operations
Olalia said the firm held valid business registrations — including permits from the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Trade and Industry — but had no authority to recruit, train or deploy workers for overseas employment.
“It’s a legitimate travel agency on paper,” Olalia said, “but they are illegal recruiters because they recruit, hire and deploy without a license from the DMW.”
Authorities said surveillance confirmed that recruitment activities, training sessions and payment collections were all taking place inside the consultancy’s offices in Santa Lucia, Pasig City. Philippine National Police representatives were present during Thursday’s closure operation.
Charges Pending
The DMW said it is preparing charges of large-scale illegal recruitment and syndicated estafa — a serious fraud offense under Philippine law — against the firm’s owners and employees.
Olalia warned that Filipinos who enter the United States on tourist visas seeking employment face serious risks, including exploitation and potential deportation.
He urged aspiring overseas workers to verify all job offers directly with the DMW and to treat advertisements on Facebook, TikTok and messaging apps with extreme caution.
“Do not rely on social media advertisements,” Olalia said. “You may become a victim of illegal recruiters.”
