70 DMW officers enlisted as financial probers

MANILA, Philippines — Seventy employees of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) have been deputized as financial investigators of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said the 70 personnel from the central and regional offices have received certification as Deputized AMLC Financial Investigators (DAFI).

“As DAFI, they are empowered to conduct investigation on financial, asset freezing, as well extend support to prosecution of the accused (in financial cases),” Cacdac said.

“Together, we send a clear message: We will protect our migrant workers. We will follow the money. And we will hold human traffickers and illegal recruiters to account for their evil deeds, again, we will throw them in jail,” Cacdac added.

The other day, DMW and AMLC signed the terms of reference for the arrangement, aimed at providing greater protection to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against money laundering.

According to the AMLC, the enlistment of the DMW officers as deputized financial investigators would significantly strengthen its capacity to investigate and prosecute human trafficking and other unlawful activities committed against OFWs.

Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration reported that 12 distressed OFWs have safely returned home from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.