MANILA, Philippines (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) over the weekend warned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) not to accept requests for unknown “padala" (packages).
According to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, OFWs should be suspicious of any package they are supposed to carry, most especially if the contents are unknown, as it may contain contrabands such as illegal drugs.
The labor and employment chief expressed her concern anew amidst the surge in the number of OFWs used in the illegal drug trade.
As this came, Baldoz ordered Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Carlos Cao Jr. to intensify the agency's information campaign, not only on drug mules but also on human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
"I again warn our OFWs, especially women, not to accept packages or "padala" from anyone, particularly if the luggage item is unknown. These may contain drugs. If they are caught carrying illegal drugs, they will face very dire consequences," Baldoz said.
She said that a number of OFWs had already been victimized and, "unfortunately, a few had been willing victims by international drug trafficking syndicates recruiting drug mules for a fee."
Baldoz said that OFWs, who have sent in a record of US$ 18.8 billion in remittances in 2010, should be protected from being victimized by drug syndicates as drug mules.
"Earning easy money through the drug trade can never compensate for loss of life in case of death, or years wasted, in case of imprisonment, if any OFW is caught and penalized for carrying illegal drugs," Baldoz said.
"What drug syndicates do is look for drug mules who will deliver the contraband to their target markets," she added.
According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), drug mules are made to do unsanitary and dangerous practices, such as swallowing small packets of high-grade cocaine.
Reports from the PDEA also indicate that drug mules earn between US$ 1,500 to US$ 3,000 for every kilogram of illegal drugs successfully delivered to the destination country.
This huge amount of money attracts OFWs to join the illegal drug trade and risk violating the law as long as they get paid, Baldoz said.
source: mb.com.ph
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