Government agencies and Bohol officials have intensified the drive against illegal recruiters through a coordinated campaign following reports of big-time fraudulent overseas recruitment in the province.

Various government agencies led by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration have requested Bohol officials to heighten monitoring operations against illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

The provincial government through Gov. Edgar Chatto then responded by signing a memorandum of agreement with town mayors, signifying their “convergence on illegal recruitment-free LGUs.”

Last month, the Nation Bureau of Investigation (NBI) discovered operations of big-time illegal recruiters from Mindanao who are carrying out their recruitment scams in Bohol.

According to NBI-Bohol executive officer Atty. Arcelito Albao, two people hoping to land employment abroad were swindled out of large amounts of money by illegal recruiters.

Albao said that one of the alleged illegal recruiters identified herself to one of the victims as Emelda Chen from Cagayan de Oro.

READ: NBI: ‘Big-time’ illegal recruiters in Bohol

She reportedly requires P300,000 as part of her scam telling victims that the amount will be used for the processing of documents needed for employment at a hotel in Canada.

Albao also reported to the Provincial Peace and Order Council last month another suspected scammer who identified herself to victims as Cristina Nalla from Valencia, Bohol.

Nalla allegedly victimized and swindled 20 victims out of P60,000 each by offering employment in London. (Allen Doydora)