Concerned about reports of increasing number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) being used as drug couriers, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz yesterday issued an urgent warning to prospective OFWs and those already deployed abroad to be wary of glib-tongued individuals luring OFWs in the drug trade.
“However high the rewards in terms of monetary compensation being offered by these individuals, it is not worth it to be involved in the drug courier business,” Baldoz stressed.
“Avoid them as you do a plague,” she warned.
The labor and employment chief said the Department is closely working with relevant government agencies dealing with this drug menace as many OFWs, mostly women, have been victimized, some of them unknowingly falling prey to notorious members of international drug trafficking syndicates.
Baldoz said it is very unfortunate that some of OFWs fall victims to these drug rings that have infiltrated the Philippines with their illegal operations.
She said that OFWs should always be wary of people offering large sums of money for bringing a small bag, box, or any container in or out of the country as a favor.
“Ignorance of what is contained in your checked-in luggage in any port of destination does not exempt you from prosecution and arrest if they find out that these contain contraband drugs or illegal items,” Baldoz said.
Citing a report of the US Embassy in Manila, Baldoz said there is an increase in the recruitment of OFWs to smuggle cocaine and heroin in and out of the country.
The recruited OFW drug couriers “transport or smuggle” the illegal drugs to China, Malaysia, and Vietnam. A number of these drug couriers have been arrested and are now facing stiff penalties, including the death sentence.
“The challenge for the government to address this problem is just too awesome. An inter-agency cooperation in the highest levels is urgently needed to ultimately put an end to these menace,” Baldoz said.
She ordered the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration OWWA), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and all Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) to include in their orientation seminars a strict warning to OFWs against being used as drug couriers. PNA
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
