The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has ordered the closure of an unauthorized recruitment and training operation in Ermita, Manila, marking the agency’s first enforcement action against illegal recruiters this year.
The operation was carried out on January 19 under the direction of DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, with the participation of officials from the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) and assistance from the Manila Police District. Also present during the enforcement were Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia and Assistant Secretary Jerome A. Alcantara.
Authorities padlocked the offices of Buenas Hotel Services Co., which was operating from Room 8 on the second floor of the Midland Plaza Hotel along Adriatico Street. Investigators said the establishment was presenting itself as a training center while allegedly collecting fees from aspiring overseas workers without the required government authority.
According to DMW findings, Buenas was managed by Eduardo and Emma S. Orog and charged applicants P4,500 for “training” and an additional P2,000 as a processing fee. Applicants were later referred to ALJU Manpower Services, which allegedly demanded placement fees ranging from P80,000 to P250,000 in exchange for promised jobs in destinations including the Maldives, Taiwan, the Middle East, Palau, and parts of Europe.
The enforcement action stemmed from complaints filed by three individuals who sought assistance from the DMW. Verification by the MWPB showed that Buenas had no accreditation from the DMW to conduct recruitment activities and was likewise uncertified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Two surveillance operations preceded the raid.
The DMW also confirmed that ALJU Manpower Services has been under preventive suspension since November 3, 2025, at the time the operation was conducted.
The closure brings to one the number of illegal recruitment agencies shut down by the DMW in 2026, following 32 similar closures recorded in 2025. The agency said these actions are in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen protection for Filipino migrant workers against illegal recruitment and trafficking.
The DMW urged individuals who may have been affected by similar schemes to coordinate with the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau through the DMW Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons Program Facebook page, via email at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph, or through the legal assistance hotline at +632 8721-0619.
