Creation of Task Force against Illegal Recruitment under the Commission on Filipinos Overseas

August 1, 2006

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 548

CREATING A TASK FORCE AGAINST ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT UNDER THE COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS

WHEREAS, the Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force, created pursuant to Executive Order No. ("EO") 325 (s. 2004) and tasked, among others, to develop and execute strategies and schemes against the modus operandi of illegal recruiters, was automatically dissolved after a year of its effectivity;

WHEREAS, persistent reports indicate that illegal recruitment, a crime of economic sabotage, remains unabated;

WHEREAS, there is a need to create a new task force against illegal recruitment in order to have a more focused, concerted, coordinated and effective programs of action to stop and eliminate illegal recruitment;

WHEREAS, the Administrative Code of 1987 n provides that the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the Office of the President and to transfer functions from one department or agency to another;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Creation of Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment.— There is hereby created a Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment (TFAIR),which shall be placed under the supervision of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas for policy and program coordination. The TFAIR shall have the following functions:

a) develop and execute strategies and schemes against the modus operandi of illegal recruiters such as, but not limited to, "escort" services within our international airports and other points of departure; ISCDEA

b) develop and execute strategies against syndicates responsible for tampering and sale of spurious passports and travel documents; and

c) ensure the prosecution of illegal recruiters, syndicates and protectors.

SECTION 2. Composition.— The TFAIR shall be composed of the Chairman of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas as Chair, and a sufficient number of members, as may be determined by the Chairman, from the staff of the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police and other relevant government agencies, who shall be detailed to the TFAIR by their respective heads.

SECTION 3. Office.— The Manila International Airport Authority shall provide sufficient space at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to serve as the principal office of the TFAIR.

SECTION 4. Powers of TFAIR.— In pursuit of its functions as defined in Section 1 hereof, the TFAIR shall have the responsibility and authority to:

a) conduct surveillance and entrapment operations of persons alleged to be engaged in illegal recruitment including, but not limited to, "escort" services at international airports and other points of departure;

b) cause or direct the immediate investigation and speedy prosecution of cases involving illegal recruitment and monitor progress of such cases;

c) coordinate with existing bodies, agencies and other instrumentalities currently involved in the campaign against illegal recruitment; and

d) perform other powers and functions as may be necessary for the effective discharge of its function or as may be directed by the President.

SECTION 5. Assistance and Cooperation.— The Department of Foreign Affairs, the Manila International Airport Authority, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor of the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the Bureau of Immigration and all other government agencies are hereby directed to actively support the anti-illegal recruitment campaign, as well as coordinate and cooperate with the TFAIR. For this purpose, the Chairman may call upon the heads of government agencies for assistance, as may be necessary, from time to time.

SECTION 6. Funding.— Funds for the operation of the TFAIR shall be sourced from such available funds as may be identified by the Department of Budget and Management.

SECTION 7. Repeal.— All orders, rules and regulations and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. IcDESA

SECTION 8. Effectivity.— This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in full force for a period of one year.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 1st day of August in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.

 

n Note from the Publisher: Written as "Administrative Code of 1997" in the original document.