The Philippine National Police (PNP), through the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), never lowers its guard against all forms of illegal recruitment in the country, especially those human traffickers who target Filipino workers seeking overseas employment as an alternative source of income. Over the years, PNP has continuously intensified its efforts, maintaining a firm stance to effectively eliminate cases of human trafficking across the Philippines, as reflected in its Tier 1 ranking for the tenth consecutive year in the US Department of State’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report.
Anchored on the PNP’s OPLAN “Pagsisikap” toward Anti-Illegal Recruitment, which was further strengthened by the PNP’s Letter of Instructions 01-2011 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons), the Nation’s Peacekeepers, under the leadership of Police General Jose Melencio C Nartatez Jr., Chief, PNP, following the stern directive of His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the President of the Republic of the Philippines, has been consistently implementing law enforcement operations against illegal recruitment and human trafficking, particularly those hidden in online scams and fraudulent overseas job schemes.
In January this year, CIDG operatives led by its Anti-Transnational Crime Unit (ATCU), under the leadership of Police Major General Robert A. Morico II, Director of CIDG, in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) headed by Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia, conducted a series of law enforcement operations targeting the alleged illegal recruitment activities in Tanza, Cavite, and Cubao, Quezon City. These separate operations resulted in the arrest of four individuals and the closure of two illegal recruitment agencies.
The first entrapment operation took place on January 26, 2026, when authorities arrested Marianeto Camposano Raro, alias “Marc Raro,” 43 years old, and a resident of Barangay Punta II in Tanza, Cavite. The suspect is believed to be the owner of R&T Travel and Tours, which is allegedly involved in illegal recruitment of migrant workers for South Korea, offering jobs such as hotel cleaners and laundry shop workers with a promised monthly salary of KRW 2,200,000 (approximately Php92,000).
The arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by Jenelyn Tejada through the DMW regarding illegal recruitment. PNP operatives, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies immediately conducted surveillance operations which later confirmed the said illegal recruitment activities, as the agency owned by the suspect was operating without the required license from the DMW to recruit overseas migrant worker. The investigation also revealed that Raro’s agency required the applicants to pay Php80,000 as a processing fee. The suspect was even apprehended while receiving a processing fee from an applicant.
Meanwhile, on January 30, 2026, a separate entrapment operation was also conducted in Cubao, Quezon City, where the operatives from CIDG-ATCU led by Police Captain Harold Landicho, under the direct supervision of Police Colonel Romulo C. Dimaya Jr., together with the DMW, arrested three female suspects, while they were in the act of receiving documentary requirements submitted by poseur applicants. The arrested suspects were identified as Ann, Kris, and Tina, all of legal age and employees of RCReign International Manpower Agency located at #287, 18th Avenue Corner P Tuazon, Cubao, Quezon City.
Prior to the said arrest, DMW operatives conducted a series of cyber patrolling, during which they detected a suspicious online recruitment activity by the RCReign International Manpower Agency. Further investigation revealed that the said agency did not have any license and was not authorized to recruit migrant workers. This led the DMW to request assistance from CIDG-ATCU to conduct a follow-up investigation and, if warranted, police operations.
Right there and then, CIDG-ATCU operatives implemented a casing and surveillance operations, which confirmed that the agency was catering applicants for domestic jobs abroad, offering employment opportunities in Hong Kong, Qatar, and Greece in exchange for Php35,000 processing fee, to be paid upon arrival abroad.
It was crystal clear that both R&T Travel and Tours in Tanza, Cavite and the RCReign International Manpower Agency in Cubao, Quezon City, were illegally operating in the country without the necessary licenses or authority from the DMW to recruit overseas Filipino workers.
Pursuant to Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022 (Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995), and in relation to Republic Act No. 11641 (Department of Migrant Workers Act), the DMW ordered the immediate closure of the two recruitment agencies—totally shutting down all their illegal recruitment operations.
The successful joint operation emphasizes the Philippine government’s strong stance against illegal recruitment and fraudulent employment schemes. The arrest of the suspects and the closure of the agencies send a clear message that the government fully protects labor, both local and overseas, to safeguard all Filipinos from illegal recruitment and all types of exploitation.
PNP assures the public that all its units, particularly the CIDG, remain relentless in combating all forms of criminality, including transnational and organized crimes all throughout the country. The entire PNP organization, in partnership with its international counterparts, is committed to provide all the necessary support to the Department of Migrant Workers and other relevant government agencies to dismantle all fraudulent job schemes, both on the ground and online.
