THE 23 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who arrived Wednesday night will file criminal and administrative charges against Be Glad Worldwide Placement Agency for illegal recruitment and estafa.
Lawyer Felipe Landicho said the incident caused “irreparable trauma” to the workers and their families, when the 23 were detained for several weeks in Trinidad and Tobago.
Landicho said they plan to file the cases before the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration next week.
The workers paid a courtesy call on Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday and thanked her for deciding to let the Capitol pay P1.88 million for their plane tickets home.
Garcia lamented the “procrastination, red tape and posturing” that surfaced in response to the workers’ plight. “Clearly you will realize that sincerity lies in genuine service,” Garcia said.
At the airport last Wednesday night, the workers were met by Governor Garcia, Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez, Rep. Red Durano (Cebu, 5th district), Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna and several Provincial Board members.
The governor said that the workers were victimized twice, first by their recruitment agency and second by “too much politicking.”
