The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has strengthened its campaign against human trafficking, illegal recruitment, and financial crimes through a new partnership with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Under the agreement, the DMW and AMLC signed terms of reference designating DMW employees and officials as Deputized AMLC Financial Investigators (DAFIs), allowing them to play a more active role in detecting and prosecuting financial crimes targeting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
In an announcement on Thursday, the DMW confirmed that 70 employees from its central and regional offices received certification and training as DAFIs. The partnership was formally sealed in a signing ceremony led by DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac and AMLC Executive Director Matthew M. David on Wednesday.
“As we sign through the enlistment of the DMW officers as deputized financial investigators, we significantly strengthen our capacity to investigate and prosecute human trafficking and other unlawful activities committed against OFWs,” David explained.
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Strengthening Protection Through Investigation
The initiative empowers DMW personnel to conduct financial investigations, implement asset-freezing measures, and coordinate with other law enforcement agencies in building cases against offenders. Cacdac said these new powers will enable the agency to take a more proactive stance in dismantling criminal networks that exploit Filipino migrant workers.
“Together, we send a clear message: We will protect our migrant workers. We will follow the money. And we will hold human traffickers and illegal recruiters to account for their evil deeds, again we will throw them in jail,” Cacdac asserted.
The partnership also aims to enhance inter-agency collaboration in tracing illicit financial flows linked to trafficking and illegal recruitment. By integrating AMLC’s financial intelligence capabilities with the DMW’s field operations, authorities hope to uncover broader patterns of exploitation and improve conviction rates.
Upholding the Welfare of Modern-Day Heroes
Officials highlighted that the agreement reflects the government’s broader commitment to safeguard the welfare of OFWs, who remain among the country’s biggest economic contributors. The remittances they send home consistently bolster the national economy, helping sustain household income, local businesses, and community development.
Cacdac underscored that protecting OFWs from financial exploitation is both a moral and economic imperative. By ensuring their safety and well-being, he said, the DMW and AMLC reaffirm the nation’s duty to defend those who sacrifice abroad to support their families and strengthen the Philippine economy.
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