Two recruitment agencies will be investigated regarding their involvement in the deployment of six (6) Filipina household service workers (HSWs) that were earlier rescued by Malaysian authorities. The immediate investigation is to be done by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) as ordered by the Secretary of the Labor Department, Rosalinda Baldoz.

The two concerned agencies are Philquest International Management and Service Contractor and Greenworld Placement Services. Baldoz ordered the investigation upon receiving the report of the rescue from the Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia, Alicia D. Santos.

She said, “The POEA needs to find out why these agencies, one of which its license has been cancelled, was still able to deploy workers to Malaysia.”

According to POEA Chief, Hans Leo Cacdac Jr., their agency cancelled the license of Philquest International Management Service Contractor last December 4.

The six Filipino HSWs that were rescued were identified by the PHL Ambassador, Santos, They are : Marietta Watan Martes, from Cordon, Isabela; Maricel A. Manzano, from Cainta, Rizal; Jocelyn C. Castaneto, from Cabaroquis, Quirino; Marilou B. Madamba, from Tuao, Cagayan; Anna Lissa Q. Casibang, from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; and Jessie C. Doran, from Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

Apparently the Filipino HSWs were imprisoned in a four-storey building located in the capital of Malaysia together with 95 Indonesians and four (4) Cambodians. The Malaysian-based agency that held them captive is Agensi Pekerjaan Sentosa Mn Sdn Bhd, a placement agency that is accredited by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).

The accreditation of the Malaysian agency was already canceled by POLO and the POEA will issue an order for its preventive suspension and will also file a case against it.

The rescued workers are now under the protection of the Malaysian Shelter Home Five Center for Victims of Human Trafficking.

The PHL Ambassador, Santos said, “Our welfare officer in Malaysia, Gloria F. Taule, DWSD Social Welfare Attache Bernard Bonina, and Assistance to Nationals Officer Atty. Eduardo Vinuya of the Philippine Embassy have already visited the six HSWs.”

Baldoz said that the six HSWs experienced physical abuse and did not receive any salaries. One of them is even sick. All of them expressed their desire to go back to the Philippines.

The Labor Secretary also instructed OWWA chief, Carmelita Dimzon to extend repatriation and welfare assistance to the affected HSWs.