21 February 2005 – The Department of Foreign Affairs today warned Filipinos seeking jobs overseas to beware of recruiters promising jobs in Europe, particularly Italy. The warning was issued after the Department received a report from the Philippine Embassy in Budapest about three Filipinos who were apprehended for not having the right visas.

The Embassy reported that the Filipinos were being detained in Nagkanizsa, Hungary, a city close to the Croatian border. They were apprehended last 13 February on board a train in the town of Zakanyi, one of Hungary’s border crossings with Croatia.

The Filipinos, all residents of Batangas, were allegedly recruited by a certain Carlito De la Cueva, also of Tanauan, Batangas. They were made to believe that they were in possession of a Schengen Visa, but had only Hungarian visas stamped on their passports.

The Embassy learned of their detention on 16 February from one of the Embassy staff of Vienna FE who was contacted by a relative of one of the victims.

After coordination with the Hungarian Authorities, Philippine Ambassador to Hungary Alejandro Del Rosario dispatched a consular team the following day to Nagkanizsa where the Filipinos are being detained, to ascertain their identities and condition. The Embassy consular team gave them food, toiletries and warm clothing.

The detainees told the consular team that they paid P350,000 each to their recruiter and they were made to believe that going to Italy would be easy.

The Embassy officials conferred with the immigration authorities to work out the Filipinos’ early release.   Consul Armando L. Comia was assured by detention center authorities of the detainees’ early repatriation once their return tickets and bookings are confirmed.

The sister in the Philippines of one of the victims promised to arrange the return tickets of the apprehended Filipinos.

In the light of this report, Ambassador Del Rosario is appealing to Filipinos not to be lured by illegal recruiters with promises of jobs in Italy.   He added that Hungary, although now an EU member, has not yet acceded to the Schengen Visa Treaty, thus, Hungarian Visas are only valid in Hungary and cannot be used as a jump-off point to Italy.   For its part, the Department advises prospective OFWs to deal only with recruiters licensed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. - END
 
 

/Gary