NBI, assisted by US Embassy, apprehends illegal recruiter

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), assisted by the US Embassy, have apprehended an alleged illegal recruiter who had been offering nursing jobs abroad.

Agents of the NBI-National Capital Region (NCR) arrested Marvex Mallo, alias Alexander Chua, after two of his victims identified as common-law couple Desiree Galicia and Marcelino Zapanta claimed the suspect collected from them the total amount of US$16,500 (P900,000).

The NBI filed before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office charges of illegal recruitment, estafa, falsification of public documents and violation of the anti-alias law against the suspect.

NBI records showed that Mallo promised the victims they would earn $30 an hour if they apply as nurses in the US. To spice up his offer, he assured them that he could arrange for their two children to accompany them.

However, their family would only be given tourist visas and not a working visas.

After handing over the aggregate amount of $16,500, they were told that they would be leaving in two weeks.

He also solicited an additional P1,500 from another complainant Trixia Mariano as initial payment on placement and processing fees.

To maintain the trust and confidence of his applicants Mallo allegedly showed copies of the original documents which he allegedly submitted to the US Embassy. But if they wanted the immediate release of their visas, they should pay an additional $750 to serve as "grease" money to a certain Julie Ann Balinzat at the US Embassy.

Already beginning to be suspicious, the couple went to the US Embassy to check if the documents were authentic. They were not.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration also told them that Mallo was not a licensed recruiter. – Evelyn Macairan