The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday described as “fake” an advisory supposedly issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) purportedly announcing that the suspension of deployment of Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia has been lifted.
DOLE spokesperson Rolly Francia said the bogus document, entitled Advisory No. 69, series of 2022 and dated April 4, 2022, was circulated apparently to create confusion among the public, specifically the workers who were eyeing employment in the Middle East kingdom.
“It is fake! There is no iota of truth to the content of that advisory” Francia, director of DOLE’s Information and Publication Service (IPS), said.
“The suspension of deployment (to Saudi Arabia) remains,” he added.
Francia said POEA administrator Bernard Olalia confirmed that he has not signed nor issued such advisory which is meant “apparently to mislead or confuse the public on DOLE policies.”
Francia surmised that the perpetrators of the fake notice might have used an old advisory and substituted its contents to give it the appearance of a legitimate issuance.
“Thus, it also suggests intention to compromise the credibility of POEA and injure the current leadership of the agency,” he added.
He said DOLE is engaging law enforcement agencies to track down the source of the bogus advisory.
“We intend to apply the full force of the law to whoever is behind this very criminal act which could undermine the welfare of our migrant workers,” Francia said.