The Department of Migrant Workers National Capital Region (DMW-NCR) successfully rescued 68 overseas workers applicants from an unsafe and inhumane accommodation facility in Parañaque City.

Authorities ordered the closure of the facility. According to the DMW, the operation was made through the joint efforts of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the OFW Hospital.

The facility was reportedly operated by ATC Human Resource Inc. at Rock Solid Manpower and Consultancy Inc.

“... Unregistered accommodation facility in Barangay San Antonio, Parañaque City, reportedly maintained and shared by two licensed recruitment agencies, ATC Human Resources, Inc. and Rock Solid Manpower & Consultancy, Inc.,” according to DMW NCR

Aside from the unsafe and inhumane accommodations, the DMW identified an alleged violation regarding ‘withholding of passports’.

“The passports of all 68 OFW applicants were confirmed being kept by the agencies instead of remaining in the possession of their respective owners,” according to DMW-NCR

The DMW NCR also discovered falsification of applicants’ documents

“The team encountered a 23-year-old OFW applicant whose identification documents were confirmed to have been falsified or altered by a representative of the agency, a matter requiring further investigation and appropriate legal action,” the DMW said

The rescued applicants are now under the care of OWWA.