Jordanian nabbed for illegal recruitment

MANILA, Philippines - A pregnant woman told the Bureau of Immigration (BI) about her 29-year-old Jordanian husband’s reported involvement in illegal recruitment activities after he allegedly abandoned her and failed to provide financial support for their one-and-a-half year old son.

In a statement, the BI said operatives from its Law Enforcement Division (LED) arrested Faris Al-Kawadri Monday in his room at the Great Eastern Hotel in Makati City.

BI-LED acting chief Wilfredo Poquez said they found three passports of Filipinas from Mindanao provinces in Al-Kawadri’s possession.

The suspect told authorities that the passports came from a placement agency based in Ermita, Manila. The travel documents were supposed to be processed so the women could be deployed as domestic helpers in Saudi Arabia.

BI Assistant Commissioner for intelligence and security Alberto Braganza said Al-Kawadri will be deported for working without the required permit and for being an undesirable alien because he abandoned his Filipina wife and son.

When confronted about his wife’s complaint, Al-Kawadri reportedly did not deny the allegations and promised he would give her money once he receives his share of the placement fees paid by the three Filipinas. – Evelyn Macairan