Recruiter arrested in Manila

An alleged illegal recruiter who collected P400,000 from her victims, was arrested the other night by elements of the Western Police District’s General Assignment Section.

Police identified the suspect as Helen Villa Gutierrez, alias Jessica Briones, 45, of 1634 Candida St., Pandacan; and 2041 Leveriza St., Malate, Manila.

According to police, Gutierrez was arrested at her Pandacan house at about 11 p.m. by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Imus Cavite Judge Lucenito Tagle for illegal recruitment.

Investigation showed that the suspect would introduce herself as Jessica Briones to her victims. Posing as a businesswoman, the glib-tongued suspect would then offer her victims fictitious jobs as factory workers in Japan.

She would then ask her victims to shell out P40,000 each as "processing fee." After handing over the cash, the suspect would then disappear.

Police said that Gutierrez’s operation, which victimized at least 10 persons, looked so convincing that some of her victims were even enrolled by the suspect in Nihongo classes in alleged preparation for their "jobs" abroad. – Mike Frialde