Bad hair day for suspected illegal recruiter

A suspected illegal recruiter thought wearing a wig could save his hide.

But this was not enough to fool his furious victims from identifying him and prompt police to arrest him.

Operatives of the Central Police District (CPD) arrested yesterday morning a 52-year-old businessman for allegedly duping several jobseekers into shelling out P10 million for fake jobs abroad.

Superintendent Benigno Durana identified the suspect as Rico Abalon, owner of the Renstar Marketing, and a resident of Cubao.

He was apprehended after complainants sought the help of CPD-Station 7, which conducted a surveillance and manhunt against the suspect.

Investigation disclosed that Abalon promised various jobs to applicants, who came from as far as Butuan in exchange for a processing fee of P10,000.

The applicants claimed Abalon assured them of a US$950 salary as drivers, electricians, nurses, doctors, food attendants, and engineers in Papua New Guinea and other island countries in the Pacific.

The complainants claimed they were supposed to leave the country for abroad in August 2003.

They said that after October 2003, Abalon disappeared and could not be contacted.

Durana said the suspect has four standing warrants of arrest issued by different regional trial courts in Pasig City since Renstar Marketing previously held office at the City and Land Plaza Condominium at the corner of ADB Avenue and Garnet Road, Ortigas Center.

At around 11:45 a.m. yesterday, lawmen spotted Abalon at the Regalla Tower, where he reportedly planned to set up his new office.

Accompanied by the complainants, the police went into the building and apprehended Abalon, who was wearing a wig so his disgruntled clients would not recognize him.

"Pero sabi ng mga complainants kalbo daw yung suspect. So when his wig was removed, the victims positively identified him as the illegal recruiter," Durana told The Star.

Police also revealed that Abalon had partner, a foreigner identified as Ridler Kimave. Kimave remains at-large.

According to Durana, the suspect has two brothers, identified as PO3 Eufemio Abalon and Joey Abalon, who were previously arrested by authorities also for illegal recruitment.