2 alleged illegal recruiters nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - Two women were arrested by the Manila Police District yesterday for allegedly promising fresh college graduates in San Jacinto, Pangasinan jobs as chambermaids and waiters in Bahrain.

At least 15 persons filed complaints against Ligaya Regala, 43, and Noemi Parayno, 44. Regala claimed she works at the Al-Masiya Overseas Placement Agency in Malate.

At least 15 more are set to file charges against the two women, who were arrested after the Kapisanan ng Kamaganak ng Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino Inc. – a government-accredited non-government organization that holds pre-departure orientation seminars for overseas workers who are about to leave the country – alerted the police when they learned that the group brought to them for PDOS by Regala and Parayno bore the papers of Al-Masiya. The agency has been suspended by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and barred from recruiting or accepting applicants.