15 illegally recruited farmers rescued

AT LEAST 15 famers from the hinterland of Mabinay town were rescued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in cooperation with the village officials, a top official of the Visayan Forum (VF) said Thursday.

VF’s anti-human trafficking monitoring officer Romualdo Señeres told Sun.Star that the 15 farmers from Samac, Mabinay in Negros Oriental were first recruited on July 26 by a licensed recruiter for Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions to work in farms.

The recruiter, as part of the documentary procedures, asked their barangay clearance but the village has standing policy to meet the person before the clearance will be issued.

Upon knowing this policy, the alleged illegal recruiter who happened to be in the place for her recruitment activities dismissed the requirements and promised to give the advance salary amounting to P2,000 to P3,000 for the family of the recruited farmers.

The illegal recruiter also promised the farmers that they will be sent to work on July 27 in farms in Davao and Bukidnon.

A licensed recruiter, upon knowing the incident, immediately reported the incident to the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Dumaguete City.

Dole also informed Visayan Forum to coordinate with local counterparts, village officials and the PNP in Mabinay, prompting the rescue operation.

The alleged illegal recruiter, however, remained at large.

Señeres said this is the second time that the PNP successfully rescued farmers, including minors, who were illegally recruited.

He said Mabinay is now a target of illegal recruitment. (VLC)