Manila: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has reported the rescue of 206 aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from alleged illegal and substandard accommodation facilities following a series of coordinated operations in Manila and Cavite. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said during the OFW Global Summit 2026 in Quezon City on Sunday that the operations were ordered amid reports of exploitation and illegal recruitment activities.
According to Philippines News Agency, of the total, 151 OFW applicants were rescued from facilities in Manila, while 55 were rescued in Imus, Cavite. Secretary Cacdac revealed that the operations uncovered about four private recruitment agencies operating accommodations for OFW applicants illegally, and highlighted the substandard living conditions in these facilities.
Cacdac mentioned that in Imus, around 50 individuals were found crammed into a small apartment unit, prompting their rescue in collaboration with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). These applicants have since been relocated to OWWA hotel accommodations in Manila.
The operation in Cavite was triggered by an earlier rescue in Pasay City, which involved OFW applicants residing in another suspect accommodation facility. The DMW learned of additional questionable accommodation facilities in Cavite during the Pasay rescue.
The DMW identified the facilities as being operated by Job Connections International Manpower Services Inc., TS Pizarro Manpower Services, Construction Incorporated, and AAV Talent Training and Management. In Imus, the accommodations were managed by Samantha Manpower Recruitment Agency, Inc. and Prime Goal International Manpower, Inc.
Reports reached the DMW that some recruitment agencies allegedly detained OFW applicants in these facilities, demanding payments of up to PHP50,000 for their release, and withheld passports and travel documents. Several rescued applicants reported waiting for deployment as domestic workers to the Middle East for six months to a year, facing restricted movement, harassment, and unauthorized fee collections.
Undersecretary Darlene Pajarito stated that the agency documented the rescued applicants and emphasized the necessity for accommodation facilities for OFW applicants to be registered with the DMW. She described the accommodations as hazardous, with workers subjected to inhumane conditions, risking illness before deployment abroad. She also stressed the need for registered recruitment agencies to have their accommodations inspected by the DMW.
The DMW discovered that some accommodations were managed by unregistered recruitment agencies, including those with expired licenses. The rescued applicants will receive temporary shelter, transportation assistance, and reintegration support while deciding whether to pursue overseas work or alternative opportunities.
Cacdac concluded by ordering the filing of administrative and criminal charges, potentially including human trafficking, against the agencies and individuals responsible.
