The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has ordered the closure of a travel consultancy and its partner recruitment agency in Ermita, Manila, for allegedly engaging in illegal recruitment by offering unauthorized jobs in Poland.
In a joint operation with the Manila Police District (MPD), the DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) on Friday shut down Reiven Air Travel & Tours Consultancy OPC and Reliable Recruitment Corporation under Closure Orders 15 and 16, Series of 2025.
DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, who led the enforcement operation, said Reiven was conducting recruitment activities without the proper license—violating Republic Act 10022, which bars travel agencies from engaging in recruitment. Reliable, though licensed, was found offering jobs without an approved job order.
MPD’s Maj. Jake Arcilla said authorities began surveillance operations a month ago, which culminated in an entrapment.
“Nung nakaraang buwan pa nagsagawa na tayo ng surveillance dito, then yung ating surveillance ay nagpositive, so ngayon nag set tayo ng entrapment operation,” he said. “Luckily, tinanggap nung kahera nila yung pera na hinihingi nilang P70,000 kaya nag push through yung ating entrapment operation.”
DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara revealed that the two agencies promised jobs in Poland to applicants and collected P70,000 in processing fees.
“Ang kanilang mga pangako ay para sa mga trabaho pa-Poland. Ang kanilang mga inooffer ay mga fruit pickers, factory workers, drivers, at kung anu ano pang mga trabaho, pero ito ay sa pakikipag kuntsaba nila sa isang recruitment agency,” Alcantara said.
He stressed that Reiven functioned as a recruiter despite lacking the authority, and Reliable misrepresented job opportunities, claiming they had openings beyond the scope of their approved job order, which only covered mushroom pickers.
During the entrapment, authorities seized folders containing documents from at least 14 applicants who were scheduled for deployment as early as July 8. Olalia said investigations will confirm whether these jobs truly exist.
“If their job order is not registered, like what this agency is doing, it is likely illegal recruitment,” he said.
“The promised salary is P90,000, but when we see their registered contract, the salary is only P50,000 that the worker should receive.”
The operation also resulted in the arrest of the individual who accepted the marked money, along with other agency personnel. Those apprehended now face illegal recruitment charges and will be placed on the DMW’s derogatory record list.
The DMW will also recommend the revocation of the agencies’ SEC registrations and the cancellation of their business permits by the Manila city government.