CEBU, Philippines - Four women have been charged for large-scale illegal recruitment before the Regional Trial Court yesterday for allegedly illegally recruiting workers abroad despite lack of authority to do so.
Charged were Annaliza Laguna, Cristy Nacua, Liezel Abellanosa and Michelle Lopuz who reportedly recruited eight persons and made them pay P115,000 for processing of their documents.
The eight complainants - Rovemay Alisoso, Lorina Escarro, Marie May Miñoza, Silvirio Toring, Felipe Magallanes, Vivian Ebuna, Elbert Villarin, and Lorna Cabrera - executed their respective affidavit claiming that they applied for overseas employment at Aqua-Gem International Corporation and that the said corporation advertised the overseas hiring at the ground floor of Gemini Building of Cebu City.
They were allegedly entertained by the herein respondents, then they were asked to pay the corresponding fees but were never deployed. They learned later that the said corporation is not authorized by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to conduct recruitment for overseas employment.
Prosecutor Lineth Lapinid said that the evidence submitted is sufficient to engender a well founded belief that the respondents helped each other in the conduct of overseas employment despite not having a license to operate as such.
“The fact that they received placement payment and other fees for the hiring purposes but failed to deploy the eight applicants constitute prima facie evidence that the respondents committed the crime of illegal recruitment in large scale,” Lapinid said.
Lorna Cabrera, one of the complainants said that sometime in July 2008, she learned in an advertisement placed on the bulletin board at Gemini Building along MJ Cuenco Avenue, this city, that Aqua Gem International Corporation is conducting recruitment for overseas employment.
She applied as housekeeper for the United Kingdom. At the office of Aqua Gem, she was interviewed allegedly by Cristy de los Santos who furnished her a list of document requirements to be complied with, then advised her to come back the following day because she will refer her for interview by the manager, Annaliza Laguna.
The next day, Laguna interviewed her and required her to fill up the application form. She explained about the application and money placement in UK in the amount of P240,000 with an advice to procure the money from the Nippon Lending to cover all expenses.
Cabrera added that on August 13, 2008, she delivered to the agency the amount of P72,000 for processing fee which was received by a certain “Mayette” or Anna Marie Echavez.
She added that on February 9, 2009, she again delivered P40,000.00 to the agency for visa processing which was received that time by Michelle Lopuz and Liezel Abellanosa.
“I made several follow-ups with the agency until they transferred their office in Tabunok, Talisay City. That Annaliza Laguna and her companions kept on promising that I will soon work abroad but which is not fulfilled up to the present time,” she said.
Copy of the subpoena was sent to each of the respondents, through registered mail, but no countervailing evidence was submitted. — Jasmin Uy-Labaco/MEEV (FREEMAN NEWS)