POEA padlocks Pampanga training center

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has padlocked a training center in Pampanga for illegal recruitment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

POEA chief Hans Cacdac said RRR International Training Center at Plaza Cristina Building in Barangay Dolores, San Fernando City has been recruiting factory workers for Japan and Korea.

“The training center was offering Korean language courses but it was not found in the updated TESDA registry of technical and vocational institutions and training programs,” Cacdac said.

He said at least 18 applicants present during the closure claimed that Grace Manuel and Regulus Mallari, alias Sir Bong, own and operate the training center.

Cacdac said Mallari was previously arrested at the POEA premises for alleged illegal recruitment and detained at Camp Crame.

“Training centers have no license or authority to recruit Filipino workers and only use publicized job opportunities in other countries to entice applicants,” he said.