DBM employee arrested on

An employee of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) was arrested by agents of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force for alleged illegal recruitment last Wednesday.

PAOCTF Luzon commander Senior Superintendent Cesar Mancao identified the suspect as Juan Sabaldan, 55, a management specialist. He was arrested by task force agents at around 12:15 p.m. inside his office at the DBM building in San Miguel, Manila.

Police said Sabaldan was arrested by virtue of a warrant for large-scale estafa issued by San Pablo City Judge Zorayda Salcedo.

Investigation showed that Sabaldan had allegedly collected some P720,000 in fees from nine San Pablo City residents who were promised fictitious jobs abroad.

Mancao said Sabaldan and another suspect, Mennen Deveza, operated a bogus recruitment agency in San Pablo City and charged each applicant P80,000 as "placement fees" for their supposed jobs abroad.

The applicants later sought the task force's help after the suspects failed to make good their promises.

Sabaldan is now detained at the PAOCTF headquarters in Camp Crame while charges for illegal recruitment are being readied against him. Deveza is being hunted by task force agents.

No bail was recommended for Sabaldan's temporary liberty, Mancao said.