NBI nabs recruiter of OFW executed in China

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested on Saturday a woman who allegedly recruited Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was executed in China last year for drug trafficking.

The NBI said its agents served the warrant of arrest on “notorious illegal recruiter” Tita Cacayan in her house in Isabela. Cacayan is facing charges of large-scale illegal recruitment before an Isabela regional trial court (RTC) for allegedly illegally deploying Ordinario to China as well as providing her with the traveling bag that contained illegal drugs.

Ordinario was intercepted and arrested in China upon her arrival in 2008. She was executed with two other Filipino drug couriers in March 2011.

Prior to her execution, Ordinario issued a sworn statement accusing Cacayan of giving her the suitcase that she brought with her to China.

Aside from the illegal recruitment case, the Department of Justice also filed drug charges against Cacayan before a Manila RTC. Cacayan, who was earlier arrested in connection with the drug charges, was released after the Manila RTC provisionally dismissed the charges due to the non-appearance of the complainants.