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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bong Go wants justice for Filipino job seekers scammed in Italy

Bong Go wants justice for Filipino job seekers scammed in Italy

Published Nov 7, 2023 05:06 am

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday, November 7 called on authorities to investigate the reported recruitment scam victimizing Filipino job seekers in Italy. 

 

Go made the call after the Philippine consulate in Milan and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) intervened to assist over 400 job seekers who have been victimized by Alpha Assistenza SRL. 

 

The senator urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to extend their full support to these individuals who were allegedly victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking. 

 

"Kailangan nating siguraduhin na ang bawat Pilipino, nasaan man sa mundo, ay protektado at hindi biktima ng panloloko. Hindi natin papayagan ang ganitong klaseng krimen lalo na kung ang OFWs na tinuturing pang bagong bayani ang bibiktimahin (We need to make sure that each Filipino, wherever they are in the world, are protected and would not be victimized by fraudsters. We can’t allow this kind of crime to happen to our OFWs whom we consider our modern day heroes),” Go said. 

 

“Mahirap ang mawalay sa sariling pamilya para lang mabigyan ng mas magandang kinabukasan ang mga anak. Huwag natin hayaan na sa kagustuhan nilang guminhawa ang kanilang buhay ay sila pa ang maloloko ng mga mapangsamantalang mga tao (It’s hard to be away from your own family just to provide your children a future. Let’s not allow them to suffer from illegal recruiters),” he asserted. 
 

 

Go said cooperation and transparency is important in the ongoing probe. He also said he is willing to participate in a Senate hearing regarding this issue. 

 

The Philippine government has already promised legal aid to the Filipinos scammed in Italy, while Italian lawyers are set to assist the victims in filing a class suit against the accused firms.  The DMW is also working with the DOJ to document and investigate the complaints.
 

 

The victims complained they were lured into paying large sums of money in exchange for employment in hotels and restaurants in Italy​. The victims eventually found out that the work permits provided by Alpha Assistenza SRL were fake after they had already paid the agency, and when they demanded a refund, they issued them checks that bounced. 

 

On its website, Alpha Assistenza SRL claims to provide immigration services, working through "effective regulation of immigration and citizenship consultants" and promoting the use of authorized immigration representatives. Alpha Assistenza SRL has vowed to cooperate with the government investigation. 

 

The company’s legal counsel claimed the Alpha Assistenza SRL is ready to participate with the authorities and answer the allegations in the proper forum. 

 

 

 

Related Tags

Italy job seekers Bong Go Overseas Fililpino Workers (OFWs)
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