The Department of Labor and Employment in Negros Oriental said Friday it has found probable cause for “illegal recruitment” of 77 males, including a minor, who were en route to Zamboanga from Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental via the Dumaguete City port.
Port police intercepted them on two busloads at the Dumaguete port Thursday afternoon as they were scheduled to depart on board a Shuttle Ferry to Zamboanga.
They were held for questioning, with members of the City’s Inter-agency Council for Anti-Trafficking immediately responding to the scene.
Social workers and the Visayan Forum Inc., an NGO focused on anti-human trafficking, were also on hand to talk to the men from Hinobaan.
Sandra Delfin, Senior Labor and Employment Officer of the DOLE Office here, disclosed that during her assessment Thursday evening at the Philippine Ports Authority port police office, she discovered that the man who allegedly brought the 77 persons with him did not have an authority to recruit from the fishing company he was working for.
Further, it was confirmed that one of the “recruits” was a minor, aged 17, Delfin added.
According to Delfin, it is not DOLE who decides on the appropriate legal action against the alleged recruiter, as it was another agency that apprehended them.
It is now the call of the Dumaguete City Police Station, through its Women and Children’s Complaints Desk, to act on the matter.
Carlito Bejo, who hails from Hinobaan, Negros Occidental, was brought to the Dumaguete City Police Station for booking Thursday night and was being held during the reglementary period pending decision on whether to file appropriate charges against him.
Initial investigation disclosed that Bejo, a boat captain of YL Fishing, had returned recently to attend a fiesta in his hometown in Hinobaan.
While there, some of the “recruits” said they asked Bejo if there were jobs available.
The group of some young men and others middle-aged, travelled from Hinobaan to Dumaguete on board two passenger buses, departing at 9 a.m. and arriving in this capital around 2 p.m.
In separate interviews Thursday evening, the men defended Bejo, insisting that the latter did not recruit them but that they volunteered to go with him to seek employment in Zamboanga.
Some said they were all from Hinobaan, but a couple said they were from Iloilo.
The men said they had brought their documents with them, such as birth certificate, as they were going to file their application in Zamboanga.
They also claimed to have paid for the bus fare and the boat fare, totaling almost P400.00 each.
The minor was brought to a hospital here for routine medical examination and is now temporarily staying at the Casa Esperanza shelter of the City Social Welfare and Development Office until arrangements are made for him to return to Hinobaan.
Authorities also reported that there could be another minor in the group, after he presented a tampered birth certificate.
As of Friday morning, Bejo and the adult males were at the city police station as it was not clear yet what would happen to them.
Some of the adults said they wanted to go home, while others said they want to leave for Zamboanga to pursue their job applications.
Still, others said they would wait it out and find out what will happen to the boat captain before they make a decision.
Senior Labor and Employment Officer Delfin said the DOLE Office here is just waiting for the heads up from the law enforcement authorities to issue a certification of probable cause for illegal recruitment.
The number of “recruits”, according to Delfin, could comprise an entire fishing boat crew, such as those used in “Pa-aling” fishing.
As of Friday, at least 22 men have returned to Hinoba-an or to their hometowns while the others had intimated that they would want to proceed to Zamboanga.
Those that returned home were given P500 each for fare.
The “recruits” were given food and were allowed to spend Thursday night at the passenger terminal at the Dumaguete port. (Judy Flores-Partlow/PNA)
