DUBAI, UAE – The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is working with the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE) to go after the Filipinos who allegedly victimized fellow Filipinos seeking freelance visas.
“We have coordination with the host government in running after the scammers, protecting victimized visa scams as well as cooperation with respect to addressing and finding those who prey upon OFWs,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac told overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Dubai on November 7.
Cacdac was in Dubai until November 8 for the fourth Serbisyo Caravan of government agencies to provide one-stop services for OFWs, and for the Salamat Kabayan early Christmas celebration for household service workers.
Rappler earlier reported that two Filipinos — Junie Sorsano, a prominent Dubai-based content creator for over a decade, and Ryan Ronel Baco — allegedly duped some 400 overseas Filipino workers of AED 3.6 million (around P62 million) in visa facilitation.
The victims were mostly domestic helpers, caregivers, and retail sales staff, who sought freelance visas to legally pursue independent, self-sponsored employment.
Must Read Dubai visa scam leaves hundreds of OFWs in financial, legal woes
Cacdac said he had raised the issue during a meeting with MOHRE head Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar.
“We have stronger cooperation now,” Cacdac said, noting this was his fourth meeting with Al Awar this year.
“If the alleged visa scammers have already fled UAE and are hiding in the Philippines, we will also talk to the DOJ, to Secretary [Fredderick] Vida about this matter and determine what charges can be filed against them,” he added.
He highlighted that victims can access MWO’s legal services and action fund.
“Rest assured, we have the legal services of our legal retainer that will help victims and in coordination with MOHRE on this issue. We may also tap the action fund on this,” the DMW secretary said.
He urged OFWs to consult the MWO to avoid scams.
DigitalizedCacdac also signed an agreement with DataFlow Group to pilot the Digital Recruitment and Employer Accreditation Management (DREAM) System, an online platform allowing UAE employers, principals, and recruitment agencies to submit documents and pay fees digitally.
Designed to cut processing time and costs, the system complements MWO Dubai’s Online Employment Contract Verification System (OECVS), which has verified over 100,000 contracts since July 2025.
“Our 20 to 30 people at MWO will not anymore be sitting behind desks doing clerical or documentation work because these can now be done through the digitalized system, which means more of our people will be out there talking to the Filipino community, going to places where the Filipinos usually congregate visit hospitals, visit prisons to deploy legal services,” Cacdac explained.
Abu Dhabi DialogueCacdac also discussed the upcoming Manila meeting of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD), which the Philippines will chair in 2027.
Established in 2008 as a voluntary consultative forum and currently chaired by Oman, ADD member states include the UAE, Philippines, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Qatar.
The 9th edition (2026–2027) will focus on Artificial Intelligence and digitalization.
Cacdac also visited Pinas Cargo, a logistics firm shipping care boxes to the Philippines, meeting with founder and CEO Marlyn Castro. (READ: Dubai OFWs pay it forward with scholarships for Filipinos back home) – Rappler.com