THE Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) yesterday said it will recommend to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) the cancellation of the recruitment license of JS Contractor once it is ascertained that it illegally collected payments from 32 Filipino students as part of a scholarship program in Taiwan.
In a televised public briefing, MECO Chairman Silvestre Bello said he would push for the cancellation of the recruitment license of the firm after due process.
“Once we have proven that they overcharged and made illegal collection, we are inclined to recommend the cancellation of their license,” said Bello.
“We pity the students. They are still studying and yet they are already allegedly subjected to illegal collection,” he added.
He was referring to reports the de facto embassy of the Philippines in Taiwan has received that P45,000 has been collected from each of 32 Filipino students on a scholarship grant in Taiwan.
Bello said the students needed only to shell out P12,400 each for their plane fare and student visas.
He said the students were supposedly made to secure an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and undergo a Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS).
But according to Bello, the OECs and PDOS are only required for overseas Filipino workers, and not for students.
For the moment, he said they are set to hold a dialogue with officials of the recruitment firm.
“They wrote us and are willing to present their side. Of course, I will give them due process so I will listen to their side,” said Bello.
