More raps await illegal recruiter

CEBU, Philippines - More complainants are coming in to lodge a complaint against an alleged illegal recruiter who was arrested by the elements of the National Bureau of Investigation during an entrapment operation last week.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration regional center in Cebu reported that the number of complainants against Ma. Ludina Ceniza is rising after news of her arrest came out.

Last Monday, 15 more complainants trooped to the POEA to file complaints against her.

One of the complainants, a certain Mary Candice Aleta from Tagbilaran, Bohol, said she was fleeced by Ceniza the amount of P105,000 for a S$1,400 a month job as a singer in Singapore, but the job actually paid only S$30 for four hours of singing work per night.

Aleta said that the suspect also faked her papers to show she was a graduate of hotel and restaurant management.

POEA-7 director Evelia Durato, separately, appealed to the public to always check with their office if the recruitment agency offering jobs abroad are accredited by them.

Meanwhile, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz was happy over Ceniza’s arrest and filing of charges.

"Finally, the long arm of the law has caught up with a notorious scammer," said Baldoz.

Ceniza was arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by the NBI operatives last Thursday. She was charged with estafa and illegal recruitment but was released after posting P24,000 bail for her temporary liberty.

Baldoz said Ceniza could face a life time in jail if convicted of the charges against her.

Ceniza was allegedly promising jobs to unsuspecting applicants to work as direct hired hotel workers in Canada and is charging them exorbitant fees. Her modus was to use Worldwide Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Training and Assessment Center, which the accused set up, as front because the center used to be accredited by the Technical Education and Skilled Development Authority. TESDA has now revoked the accreditation.

"Miss Ceniza successfully deployed some workers to Canada and continued charging them with fees for such deployment. Through her Center, she also recruited household service workers for Singapore. To facilitate deployment, she tied up with Supersonic Manpower Services Corporation, a recruitment agency that has a valid license," Baldoz explained.

Baldoz said the end of the road for Ceniza came when her victims came forward and executed affidavits that pointed to her criminal activities. – (FREEMAN)