At least 32 professionals yesterday took matters into their own hands and “arrested” representatives of an agency that allegedly failed to facilitate their taking the International English Language Testing System or IELTS examination despite their having already paid for it.
The IELTS is a requirement for employment by some countries and yesterday’s exam was held at an uptown hotel.
The professionals — mostly nurses, doctors and engineers — angered on being prevented from taking the test at the hotel venue, sought the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for assistance, and in the presence of CIDG agents, promptly placed representatives of the agency who were present at the hotel under “citizens arrest.”
The CIDG agents, caught by surprise by the sudden move of the complainants, were left with no choice but to consequently take into custody a certain Annabelle Diez, manager of ANZ International, and one of her office staff. They were at the hotel venue of the exam to assist other examinees.
Police Superintendent Rex Derilo of the CIDG said the professionals complained that, for still unexplained reasons, the agency failed to facilitate their taking the exam.
Aside from facilitating the taking of the exam, ANZ is also engaged in job placements for overseas employment.
There were reportedly 70 professionals facilitated by ANZ to take yesterday’s IELTS exam, but only 12 were allowed to take the test.
Of the remaining 58, only 32 flocked to the CIDG office to seek assistance, claiming that despite their having already fully paid their dues of P8,640 each, they were still prevented from taking the exam.
In fact, they insisted, they would not have been armed with the complete documents for travel abroad had they not fully paid the ANZ for their IELTS requirements.
Derilo explained the CIDG only acted on the basis of the complaints and merely assisted the complainants because the police could not just arrest the two ANZ personnel without personal knowledge of the alleged wrongdoing imputed on them.
Some of the complaining professionals were scheduled to leave soon for work overseas after they have already hurdled the other requirements except the IELTS.
The complainants demanded that Diez reimburse them the P8, 640 they already paid the ANZ.
Diez could not explain why the complainants were not allowed to take the exam but her lawyer, Ronie Vallena, said it should be the International Development Program that should explain the alleged changes in its policies.
The IDP is the one that conducts the exam to prospective overseas workers.
Vallena claimed he was surprised by the development considering that for the past six years of operation of ANZ, its applicants were allowed to take the IELTS exam, including those who have not been able to pay in full.
Vallena said her client promised the applicants they should be able to take the next exam set for April 23 and 24 in Manila with the ANZ paying for the extra expenses.
But the complainants would hear none of it.
Diez tried to reimburse eleven of the complainants but this was rejected by everyone, who also refused to be paid in checks for fear of more troubles.
Derilo said the two ANZ personnel are now in CIDG custody for further investigation and possible filing of charges.
“The complainants are bent on filing charges for estafa on Monday if no settlement is arrived at by then,” Derilo said.
Vallena, however, questioned the manner of the arrest of his client and said he was contemplating the filing of administrative charges against the CIDG with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Vallena said their was no basis for the arrest or for the taking into custody of his client.
“When you say citizen’s arrest, she should have been caught enflagrante delicto or while actually committing or right after the commission of the crime. We will be filing complaints before the Ombudsman this Monday for illegal detention because they have no legal basis,” Vallena said.
He claimed that if there was indeed a crime committed by his client she should have been arrested right after the complainants paid the fees.
The IELTS is recognized in countries like the USA, Australia, UK, New Zealand and Canada. It is designed to assess the language ability of those who want to study, live or work in countries where English is the language of communication. The test includes the ability to listen to words and interpret them correctly, as well as the ability to read, write and speak English. — /JST