Public warned against fake POEA certification

A MODUS of withdrawing escrow deposits of recruitment agencies using falsified “certificate of no pending appealed case” was uncovered by the Department of Labor and Employment.

This prompted Secretary Silvestre Bello III to immediately issue a public warning yesterday.

“We are informing the public that a falsified “Certification of No Pending Appealed POEA case” allegedly issued by the Department of Labor and Employment Legal Service has been circulating and is being used by unknown individuals in withdrawing escrow deposits of certain recruitment agencies. We advise the public to be more prudent and cautious in dealing with persons or entities involved in this reported fraudulent activity,” Bello said.

DOLE separately received letters from at least two overseas recruitment agencies inquiring about the authenticity of a certification allegedly issued by DOLE Legal Service and was purportedly used to withdraw an escrow deposit.

A thorough investigation revealed that the said certification was found to be bogus and was never issued by DOLE Legal Service and that the supposed signatory of the document is no longer connected with the labor department.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) mandates that a recruitment agency shall set-up an escrow account to cover possible future liabilities arising from claims of overseas contract workers due to employment contract violations.

The release of escrow which is deposited in a POEA-accredited bank is ordered by either the POEA or the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

A DOLE-issued cer-

tification of “no pending POEA case on appeal” is a requirement to withdraw escrow deposits by recruitment agencies.

Bello is enjoining the public to call 527-3000 local 610 or call DOLECAR at 074-443-5339 or at POEA-CAR @ (074) 445-4209 if they had been victimized by the bogus certification or have leads to the culprits of the said fake document.