By NG Seruela
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday (Aug. 30) ordered the creation of an intensified anti-illegal recruitment task force, following the report of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on the 32 convictions of illegal recruiters.
In his public address, President Duterte pointed out that the “widespread crime” of illegal recruitment causes a heavy burden to its victims after sacrificing their valuable items.
“This is a widespread crime committed by different people. Tayo, nakita natin ‘yung mga victims na kawawa na dumating sa ibang bayan parang natulala, hindi nila malaman kung paano nangyari ‘yan. And to think that they had to sell their land, borrow, beg, borrow carabao sa mga rural areas.”
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III disclosed that there is a current task force on illegal recruitment headed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the DOLE.
“Mr. President, right now there is a task force on illegal recruitment, and it is headed by the Department of Justice with DILG, DOH and DOLE, being members of the task force, including the PNP,” Bello said.
However, Duterte emphasized that it is “circuitous.” He then requested for a fortified task force that aims to focus on the matter and where an immediate response from the police will be done after the report.
“Masyadong circuitous ‘yan, either throw it to the police, ideally it should be CIDG or NBI, or para talagang ma-focus [‘yung illegal recruitment]… So you fortify the anti-illegal task force unit. Okay na ‘yung iba. But I want ‘yung ‘pag may mag-report, follow up kaagad pulis,” he said. – bny
