“Swindled” students want to go after agent

CEBU, Philippines - Teachers and students of Zamboanga del Norte who are currently in Cebu supposedly for their internship program are still hoping that everything would be settled with the agent they negotiated with to process their three-month stay in the city.

Sherwin Lapong, one of the practicum advisers of St. Joseph College of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, said that they are still waiting for developments from their school officials on the case before they give their official statement.

In an interview with The Freeman, Lapong explained the details of the possible swindling they have encountered.

Last Wednesday, Lapong and 25 students from St. Joseph College went to the Office of Acting Governor Agnes Magpale for the possibility of the students to be taken in the Capitol for their internship.

The students came to the city for their internship which was supposed to be processed by an agent they have negotiated with since last year. But just recently, the students could not contact the agent anymore who already had with him around P250,000.

The amount, said Lapong, was from 50 students coming from two schools in Zamboanga del Norte.  All students are currently in Cebu. The rest of the group came from St. Joseph College’s sister school, the St. Vincent’s College in Dipolog City.

The agent allegedly offered a package for P6, 600 which includes an overnight stay in a hotel where they will be billeted upon arrival, with a tour in Metro Cebu. The package also assures the students that they will be accommodated in a company in the city where they can have their internship.

Lapong said that they were very careful with the negotiation and never doubted the agent since there was a formal signing of Memorandum of Agreement between the school and the agent.

Days before they were about to leave for Cebu, Lapong said that they were pushing for the agent to complete everything he  was supposed to deliver as indicated in the MOA.  But the agent was not able to submit insurance for the students as promised, and the confirmation from the companies in Cebu where the students will be accommodated.

Confirmation from companies where the students were to have their internship should have been given already since in another school from Zamboanga del Norte who had their internship in Cebu processed in another company, confirmation was already received from the companies.

Lapong said that they were able to pay the agent 50 percent of the full amount while 12 of their students paid in full since the said agent offered discounts for their first number of students to pay. The agent allegedly offered discounts and freebies like shirts and raffling of cellular phone.

Lapong said that they decided not to turn over the other half of their payment to the agent which they have been using right now in their stay in the city. He also said that three days before they were supposed to leave for Cebu, they decided to go to another company even if the students needed to pay another P700.

At present, 25 students have been deployed in different departments in the provincial government where they started their internship even without completing requirements yet.

Lapong said that they were grateful for the accommodation since their target was really to start the internship on time so the students can complete everything before the school year in June starts.

Other teachers that are with the group of students have also found a way for some to start their internship in Business Process Outsourcing companies in Asiatown IT Park Lahug.

Although seeking for the issue to be cleared, Lapong said they would want the agent to face the consequences of his actions. — (FREEMAN)