MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) closed down a church in Baras, Rizal on Monday, April 28, 2025, after it was found to be involved in illegal recruitment activities.

Faithful Promise Foundation Philippines Inc., also known as Faithful Promise of Jesus Christ the Greatest Master Phil. Inc. and Faithful Promise Church in the Philippines, was ordered closed by Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac following an entrapment operation conducted by the NBI.

Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia said the operation was carried out after a series of surveillance activities and the arrest of Pastora Esclarmonde Estrada Basalio, who was recruiting workers without a license from the DMW.

“Ang una po nilang nabiktima ay mga kapuwa nila parishioners, yong mga miyembro mismo ang nagsumbong, at siyempre vinalidate natin. Meron mga na-offload, dahil may mga nagrereklamo at kasalukuyan din sinisingil kahit walang authority, based on the confirmation from the complainants. Tsaka yong mga nakaalis, at yong aalis pa ay kanilang nirecruit. Wala po tayong ibang option kundi isagawa po natin ito,” Olalia said.

He emphasized the dangers of undocumented migration: “Kung aalis sila na hindi dokumentado, hindi tamang dokumentasyon, buhay ang kapalit po non kapag nagkamali. Yon po ang ating isinaalang-alang—pamilya at buhay ng OFW.”

According to Czar Eric Nuqui, Chief of the NBI Cavite North District Office, victims were charged P50,000 each for processing fees and documents, disguised as community work. Some victims who managed to leave the country arrived with no jobs waiting for them, he said.

Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara said most victims were promised construction work and basic elementary occupations in Japan. Jobs offered also included factory workers, tea pickers, clerks, accountants, mechanical engineers, and construction workers in Japan, Korea, and Papua New Guinea, with promised salaries ranging from P36,000 to P120,000.

Victims were instructed to secure tourist visas and present themselves as missionaries to immigration officers. Some were offloaded, some were deployed, while others are still awaiting deployment.