Cops nab ‘illegal recruiter’

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged big time illegal recruiter who reportedly swindled P37 million was arrested yesterday afternoon in Sitio Camarin, Barangay Vito, Minglanilla, Cebu.

Kirby Gonzales Racaza-Silva, 43, was caught by the elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 led by Superintendent Fermin Armendarez III by virtue of the warrant of arrest for illegal recruitment issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 23 Judge Generosa Labra. No bail was recommended for her temporary liberty.

Silva’s husband, Rogelio, was also arrested for illegal possession of firearms after the CIDG operatives found a caliber .45 pistol and .38 revolver in his possession. Rogelio denied ownership of the guns.

CIDG-7 chief, Senior Superintendent Ritchie Posadas, said that Silva reportedly swindled almost 2,500 persons across the country promising them foreign employment in Australia.

Silva allegedly operated Cebu-based Intertech 8888 Agency, a placement agency but was disguised as a call center company.

It was later on found to be unauthorized by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to recruit workers for work abroad.

 Silva and his three employees Jennylyn Paz, Razel Hilacan and Robelyn Abellaneda were arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation in September last year in Sangi, Minglanilla allegedly for violating Section 6 of Republic Act 8042, otherwise known as Migrant Workers and Filipinos Acts of 1995.

 Their arrest stemmed from the complaints of Jennifer Brioso, a resident of Abellana Street, Barrio Luz, Cebu City; Michelle Enguio of Tinaan, Naga City, Cebu; Ciriaco Asumbrado, Jr., of Villa Kalubihan, Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City and Gerald Ian Alcover of Sitio Baybayon, Calero, Liloan, Cebu.

 Melzar Rosales, Arman Dennis Albarillo and spouses Christopher and Mary Grace Gantalao, through lawyer Junjie Manda, also filed complaint for illegal recruitment in October 2013.

 Other complainants include Jacqueline Villa-gonzalo, Lowela Marie Pepito, Mary Ann Albia, Bethany Reyes, Francis Gerali Maranga, Bilsasar Romarate, Nilda Romarate, and Richard Alferez.

 Complainants alleged that Silva recruited them to work as production workers in Australia with a monthly salary range of Aus$5,000 to Aus$6,000 with free board and lodging for the first year of a four-year contract. She also reportedly promised to shoulder the plane ticket of the applicant in going to Australia.

  In exchange, each applicant is required to pay P20,000 as assessment fee. On top of it they were advised to pay P10,000 as down payment to get a job in Australia.

 However, Silva failed to deploy the complainants abroad despite having already paid the required fees.

Silva said she was shocked after seeing the warrant since she was able to pay P450,000 back the complainants.

“Unfair sa akong part kay wa man ko’y idea na naa pa’y warrant nga continuous man among payment sa ila,” she said.

 She added that an affidavit of desistance was already executed by complainants Brioso, Enguio, Asumbrado and Alcover, stating that they will no longer pursue their complaints.  (FREEMAN)