A Filipino teacher in China is asking for help after learning that he had been working illegally.
Aliomar Apad is a registered overseas Filipino worker with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), according to a report from GMA's Balitanghali.
Apad, who was supposedly set to work as a teacher in Yantai, was deployed to China by a licensed recruitment agency.
However, his Chinese employer did not follow their agreement.
As soon as he arrived in the country, Apad said that his Chinese employer took his passport and other documents.
He was then assigned to a school in Weifang province instead of Yantai.
"Ang nangyari is 'yung Chinese employer niya, hindi sumunod doon sa usapan sa kung saan siya magtatrabaho (What happened was that his Chinese employer did not follow through on the discussion on where he would work)," POEA Undersecretary Bernard Olalia told GMA News.
"Nagkaroon po ng paglipat sa kaniya na hindi po naaayon sa rules ng POEA at doon po sa ibinigay na visa sa kaniya ng China kaya siya nagkaproblema (There was a transfer of him that was not in accordance with the rules of POEA and the visa given to him by China so he had a problem)," he added.
Apad said he had no idea that he has been working illegaly until he was asked to hide due to a police check in the school.
"Noong time na 'yon, kinakabahan po ako kasi bakit ako nagtatago eh legal ako (I was nervous because I was wondering why am I hiding? I'm legal)," Apad said.
Apad said he immediately resigned after he learned that his employment was anomalous, the report added.
He added that when he submitted his resignation, it was not accepted because he was asked to pay 50,000 Chinese Yuan or P350,000.
Apad resigned from the school when his contract ended in January. However, when the school returned his passport, the valid residence permit was torn.
He added that the embassy asked him to go to immigration instead.
"Kasi noong sinabi ko na ilalaban ko 'to, 'di ako tinutulungan ng embassy. Sabi nila kung kaya ko, punta raw ako sa immigration. Sabi ko kailangan ko tulong nila (Because when I said I would fight for it, the embassy did not help me. They said I could go to immigration instead. I said I needed their help)," Apad said.
But Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana said the embassy would give assistance to Apad.
The POEA also assured that the recruitment agency will also be held liable.