Illegal recruiter nabbed; 4 women rescued

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Police authorities here gave a big boost to the newly created anti-recruitment unit when it arrested a Manila-based recruiter and rescued four of his victims from possible white slavery in the city.

The suspect, detained in Zamboanga City Central Police Office, was identified as Noel Ramos, 42, a native of Baguio City. He was arrested Sunday while waiting for his four recruits in a known foodchain in the city.

Police identified the rescued victims as Jenny Rose Collante, 16, of Tarlac; Erna Beltran, 19, of Caloocan City, and certain Lourdes and Joy, of Nueva Ecija.

The authorities reported that the victims paid Ramos P5,000 each as placement fee for a job as guest relation officer (GRO) in Malaysia.

Investigation disclosed that the suspect and his four recruits arrived here last Friday and were set to meet with a certain Hadji who will reportedly take the four victims to Malaysia.

But one of the victims told the police that she got suspicious when Ramos billeted them separately in two motels within the downtown area. She said that she then decided to find her way to the police station to report the matter.

Elements of the Central Police here immediately acted on the complaint and arrested Ramos inside the Chowking Restaurant.

During the interrogation, Ramos claimed that the real recruiter was a certain Bong and that he was only tasked to escort the female victims in the south.

Police are now tracking the whereabouts of the other suspect who could still be hiding in this city and allerted the police in Manila about the group who were reportedly operating in the metropolis.