The SUN HK : DMW issues new warning against Opportunities Abroad

26 February 2024

DMW warns the public not to deal with Opportunities Abroad and Candour Visa

Another visa consultancy firm connected with former Cebu City councillor Prisca Nina Mabatid has been cited in a new warning from the Department of Migrant Workers as operating illegally for offering jobs abroad without a licence.

PCVC-Opportunities Abroad, which Mabatid used in offering student visas to overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong and about 100 other jobseekers across the Philippines, was used by the DMW in its warning posted on Facebook earlier today, along with Candour Visa Consultancy.

Buksan ang mga tip

“Ang pag-aalok ng mga visa/ immigration consultancy firm sa mga Filipino ng trabaho sa Canada at Australia nang walang lisensya mula sa Department of Migrant Workers ay ILLEGAL,” said its post. (The offer of jobs in Canada and Australia by visa/immigration consultancy firms not duly licensed by the Department of Migrant Workers is ILLEGAL).

“Kung kayo ay kabilang sa mga napangakuan ng trabaho sa abroad ng mga visa o migration consultancy firm, mangyari lamang na makipag-ugnayan sa amin upang magreklamo laban sa visa consultancy firm at mapanagot din ang mga nag-recruit o nanloko sa inyo na mga empleyado o agent nito,” it added.

TAWAG NA!

(If you are among those promised jobs abroad by a visa or migration consultancy firm, please reach out to us and file a complaint against the visa consultancy firm so its employees or agents who recruited or defrauded you could be held to account).

Another company, SmartVisa, was used to advertise Mabatid's recruitment in HK

Four days ago, the same warning was issued using PinoyCare Visa Center, Inc. (PCVC) which listed Mabatid as its chief executive officer, as an example.

Last year, both PCVC and Opportunities Abroad were among eight companies that were used by DMW in its initial warning against visa consultancies that offer jobs abroad.

PINDUTIN ITO

Mabatid is facing a Senate inquiry over complaints filed by about 150 Filipinos who live in various provinces in the Philippines and countries abroad about having been offered student visas to Canada, but were allegedly promised they would be going there on a work and study program.

Each applicant who paid between P100,000 and P139,000 claimed they were not given any real help in securing the promised student visas, and were warned about being sued when they tried to ask for a refund.