Philippines, UAE go after Filipino visa scammers

Detailed summary

The Philippines and UAE are collaborating to pursue visa scammers who duped hundreds of OFWs. The two countries also roll out new digital recruitment systems.

ASSURANCE. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac tells Filipino household service workers during a get-together in Dubai on November 7, 2026, that there are legal services and funds available to them.

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.

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.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Rappler. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.