Binay wants 6 alleged illegal recruiters under tight watch

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay asked yesterday the Philippine National Police (PNP) to keep an eye on a group of suspected illegal recruiters – two British nationals and four Filipinos – who were arrested Thursday last week.

Binay, presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFWs’) concerns, said the suspects were directors and employees of the NSN Worldwide Advisers, Inc., a visa consultancy agency.

“Keep an eye on this case. We must show the Filipino people that we are serious in curbing illegal recruitment,” Binay told officers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Binay said the CIDG has received a report from seven complainants who said the suspects recruited them to be caregivers and housekeepers in London with a salary of P100,000. They were also promised free hospitalization, free education for their dependents, and a United Kingdom immigrant status for their family after two years.

The complainants added that the suspects assured them of entry to the UK through a Tier 4 student visa, which is granted to those who wish to study in UK for six months or more.

However, the visa application was denied due to questionable documents, failure of the agency to provide bank certificates and the NSN’s not being a bona fide education provider under the UK Border Agency.

The suspects are currently detained at the CIDG office in Camp Crame, and are facing charges of illegal recruitment and estafa. Their arrest came two weeks after Binay formed an inter-agency task force to curb illegal recruitment and fight human trafficking.

Aside from the PNP, the task force includes the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Manila International Airport Authority, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Bureau of Investigation.