Ignore ‘agents’ – Philippine Embassy
KOTA KINABALU: A senior officer of the Philippine Embassy mobile consular team is strongly appealing to all applicants to direct their problems, queries and difficulties to the team during the ongoing week-long consular mission which started here Tuesday.
By doing so, the officer said Filipinos and local employers wishing to avail consular services will be safeguarded from falling victims to irresponsible individuals charging extra fees stationed outside the Sabah Foo Chow Association hall located along Jalan Kolam, Bukit Padang, Luyang.
Not privy to talk to the media, the officer said he noted the presence of some individuals claiming as representatives of local recruitment agents operating in the area.
“We do not have jurisdiction to remove them in the area. That is why we are now strongly urging our fellow countrymen including their respective local employers not to entertain the services of this people. “Approach us and we will help you (applicants) address your problems without charging any extra fees,” the officer reiterated, adding that the embassy is here to extend helping hands to all Filipinos needing consular assistance regardless of race and religion. He said all government fees are fixed and posted in the embassy’s official website as well as posted outside at the designated community hall during every consular mission.
He added application forms are given out for free to the public and any unauthorised individual selling application forms and offering services to facilitate the processing of consular requirements and documentation of applicants for a fee are illegal.
A random check at the venue confirmed the presence of a handful of individuals offering their services to the crowd. Some of them claimed that they were representatives of local recruitment agents.
“We just want to help our countrymen, especially those who cannot read and write, complete their application forms and other requirements with a minimal service fee,” they explained.
Illegal agents are charging RM10 to fill up the necessary personal information in the application form per applicant and between RM350-RM400 to help process the requirements of Life Birth Certificate apart from selling RM10 Post Laju envelop.
It was also noted that there were local employers who use name dropping (agents’ names) to avail special treatment from the embassy staff.
However, the name dropping strategy failed to work because the embassy staff strictly do not recognise partnership with any agents or individuals in the exercise.
“We urge local authorities like Rela members assigned to help assist orderliness in the community hall to also remove these irresponsible individuals who are up to victimise innocent applicants,” some concerned members of the crowd expressed.
Meanwhile, more than 1,500 people came as early as 4am on Tuesday morning to the designated venue to get the ticket numbers.
Considering the huge crowd, it was learned that embassy staff released all the allocated 750 ticket numbers intended for the week-long exercise. The ticket numbers were distributed on first-come-first-serve basis.
The embassy said those who could not be accommodated during the scheduled exercise are invited to come for the missions in Tawau (May), Sarawak (June), and again in Kota Kinabalu (July).
The mobile consular team is also scheduled to visit two detention centres here on Sunday to issue travel documents to pave way for the deportation of Filipinos arrested for violation of immigration laws.
Finally, the embassy is also reminding Filipinos visiting the Foo Chow hall to dispose of their rubbish properly.
The embassy also thanked the crowd during the first day of the exercise for their cooperation extended to the team and other local authorities.