MARCH 10, 2026 – Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac has ordered the recall of a staff member who was caught on video behaving disrespectfully towards overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expressed displeasure over the incident and directed Cacdac to investigate and take action on the matter. The staff member, who worked for the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Bahrain, will face investigation in the Philippines.
MWO Staff Recalled due to Rude Behavior
The incident happened at the Philippine Embassy compound in Bahrain, after the distribution of financial assistance for OFWs affected by the Middle East conflict. The payout was halted after the crowd got bigger, though some OFWs attempted to enter the compound.
According to the OFWs, some of them came from far areas when they heard about the cash aid. They complained that the MWO should have told them ahead of time that the financial distribution had already ended.
However, instead of addressing the OFWs calmly, a staff member told them to leave because there was no more available funds. He spoke harshly and even told them to complain wherever they wished.
“Tapos na po ha, hindi na kayo mae-entertain (It’s over, you won’t be entertained anymore),” the MWO Bahrain staff member said. “Tapos na po ang ayuda (The assistance has ended).”
“Magsumbong na kayo sa mga gusto ninyong pagsumbungan (You can report to whoever you want),” he continued. “Ang Manila ho ang nagsasabi walang pondo. Sige i-record n’yo, kahit magsumbong pa kayo sa Pilipinas (Manila is the one saying there is no budget. Go ahead, record it, you can even report it to the Philippines).”
The whole incident was recorded on video, which had since gone viral on social media and brought to the attention of the DMW.
Watch a video of the incident below, as shared by Radio Maragtas Facebook page:
During an interview with Radyo Pilipinas, DMW Secretary Cacdac apologized to the OFW community in Bahrain and described the staff’s behavior as “unacceptable,” the Philippine News Agency reported.
“Imbes na sinabihan ng mahinahon at reassuring at pwede naman benefit pay ang tawag doon, parang digital payment system, ay ganoon pang mga salita, tono na binitawan (Instead of speaking calmly and reassuringly, and it could have been called benefit pay, like a digital payment system, those kinds of words and tone were used),” Cacdac said.
“Bukod sa tono, ang mga sinabi pa ay di totoo (Aside from the tone, the things he said were not true),” he added, mentioning that the DMW has funds, which is contrary to what the staff had said.
“May pondo. Isa pa yan sa pagkakamali, on so many levels, ang dami pagkakamali kahit anong angulo (There is funding. That’s another mistake, on so many levels, so many mistakes from any angle),” he explained.
The DMW Secretary confirmed that the staff has been recalled, and that he will be facing an investigation upon his return to the Philippines. If found liable, the staff may also face penalties.
“Hindi acceptable itong pangyayari na ito, napakalungkot at ako’y humihingi ng paumanhin sa ating mahal na OFWs sa Bahrain at saan mang panig ng mundo dahil hindi ito karapat dapat, hindi ito ang tatak ng DMW at ng OWWA (This incident is unacceptable, it is very sad, and I apologize to our dear OFWs in Bahrain and all over the world because this is not right, this is not the mark of DMW and OWWA),” Cacdac stated.
Image Credit: Department of Migrant Workers FB Page
To prevent similar incidents, the DMW Secretary has ordered financial assistance for OFWs in Bahrain to be distributed via digital payments. He also assured everyone that the government is ready to provide different types of assistance to those who are affected by the Middle East crisis.