Over fake AIDS tests certificates: South Korea deports 57 Filipino entertainers

January 11, 2010: MANILA, Philippines—South Korea deported 57 Filipino entertainers over fake AIDS tests certificates required by both countries prior to deployment of migrant workers, the Department of Labor and Employment said Monday.

This prompted Labor Secretary Marianito Roque to order an investigation of the recruitment agency that issued the fake certificates. He said the agency will be sanctioned if found violating Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.

He emphasized that to protect OFWs in both the sending and host countries, a strict AIDS test should be made a crucial part of the medical examination required by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration on overseas-bound migrant workers.

“We strongly urge the recruiters to adhere to the stringent requirement and ensure that the credentials and required certificates of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) are in accordance with the international standards,” Roque said.

In 2009, Roque said that of the 57 OPAs, 11 were deported on December 7, 18 on December 4, and 28 from July 12 to 16.

One of the deportees, whose identity the department withholds for privacy reasons, said that her agency in the Philippines prepared and submitted all the required documents, including the AIDS test certificates. She added that she, as well as her fellow entertainers, did not undergo a test in the country because the agency and promoter told them that the AIDS test will be conducted in Korea.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Seoul is in the process of inviting the promoter in Korea to shed light on the incident.

Philippine labor attaché to Seoul Delmer Cruz also recommended that reintegration assistance be extended to the deported entertainers “in consideration of their disadvantaged status” through the department’s National Reintegration Center for OFWs and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. - INQUIRER.net