Illegal recruiters charged for duping 7 applicants

CEBU, Philippines - A manager and secretary of a recruitment agency were charged with large scale estafa before the Regional Trial Court yesterday for allegedly duping seven people and failing to deliver their promise to give them jobs abroad.

  Associate Prosecution Attorney Hyacinth Jadraque has found probable cause to charge Analiza Laguna, manager, and Mechel Lopuz, secretary of Platinum Brothers International Manpower Agency Inc., of the crime

  The complainants, Arlene Tuazon, Emelia Navarro, Felicisima Caiban, Brenda Mansueto, Graciela Pino, Ma. Chona Racaza, Elvie Datoy, Vivian Egpit and Brenda Pabroa claimed the two accused promised them jobs abroad and processed their papers from December 17, 2007 to April 2009.

Lopuz, 24, the agency’s secretary, was arrested by the operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 last May 6, 2009 during an entrapment operation while accepting P3,000 marked money from a complainant on the second floor of the Tabunok Commercial building. Laguna was allegedly not around during the operation.

The recruitment agency where the two accused is connected is allegedly not registered with the Philippine Overseas and Employment Administration and was previously known as Aqua-Gem International Manpower Corporation whose license was suspended by POEA for certain violations.

Datoy, in her affidavit, said that she went to Aque Gem International last August 2007 to apply as a caregiver in Macau and was assisted by Laguna and Lopuz. She was able to pay P105,000 for the processing of all her documents. But instead of sending her to Macau, she was later told that she would be sent to Cyprus to work as a caregiver.

Datoy said she started doubting the offer when after several months, the agency still failed to send her abroad.

The complainant said she later knew that Laguna and the owner of the agency had a conflict and were not authorized to accept money from applicants. —Jasmin R.   Uy/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)