Woman arrested for illegal recruitment

CEBU, Philippines - A 50-year-old woman was arrested by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7 past 9am in Barangay Punta Princesa yesterday for charges of estafa.

The CIDG placed Merlyn Gacayan under arrested by virtue of four warrants issued by Judge Soliver Peras of Regional Trial Court Branch 10 in relation to four different complaints filed against the respondent.   Gacayan was arrested inside her residence while allegedly negotiating with some clients.

PO3 Arnold Bocayong, one of the arresting officers, told reporters the warrants stemmed from the complaint of at least four persons Gacayan illegally recruited for work abroad. The complainants alleged Gacayan had introduced herself as proprietor of Be Glad Manpower Agency and recruited them for jobs in Hawaii. They were also allegedly made to pay P24,000 each as “processing fee.”

Ramil Dollete, one of the supposed victims who went to the CIDG 7 office yesterday also to file a complaint against the respondent, alleged Gacayan promised him and several others jobs in a hotel in Hawaii. They were also allegedly made to pay P24,000 as processing fee.

Dollete said they submitted their requirements on December 25 last year and were reportedly promised to depart for Hawaii on January 5. When the day came, however, Gacayan allegedly told them their flight had to be moved three days later because one of them was not yet “confirmed.”

Three days after, Gacayan allegedly gave the same excuse and told them they would finally leave on February 5. When the day came, Gacayan allegedly did not show up.

“Sa February 5 na naman daw, pero hindi na siya nagpakita sa amin kaya naisipan na namin humingi ng tulong sa pulis,” Dollete said.

They also found out later that Gacayan’s agency is not registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Bocayong said several other complainants also sought help from the National Bureau of Investigation 7. 

The court recommended P16,000 for each warrant as bond for Gacayan’s temporary liberty.

Reporters tried to get Gacayan’s statement yesterday, but her lawyer, Alex Tolentino, did not allow her a word.(FREEMAN NEWS)