Tulfo wants Italy recruitment scam probed

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Raffy Tulfo has called for an investigation into a recruitment scam targeting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who want to go to Italy.

In a resolution, Tulfo asked the Senate to “conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into the alleged massive illegal recruitment schemes perpetrated in Italy, victimizing hundreds of Filipinos by paying exorbitant fees for non-existent jobs, with the end view of reviewing existing laws and policies on illegal recruitment and adopting other legislative measures to curb the proliferation of such vicious acts.”

He cited news reports that hundreds of Filipinos were duped into paying exorbitant fees by a recruitment agency for non-existent jobs.

Reports said 400 Filipinos were victimized by a multimillion peso scam allegedly perpetrated by the immigration consultancy firm Alpha Assistenza SRL, which is owned by Krizelle Respicio and Frederick Dutaro.

“According to the victims, they were lured into believing that they will get jobs in Italy after paying at least 2,500 euros (P120,000). Some of them paid 5,780 euros or P347,140,” Tulfo said.

“Alpha Assistenza’s scheme allegedly involved the use of bogus work permits (nulla osta), which the OFWs only discovered as fake when these were presented at the visa processing center,” he added.

Tulfo said 68 victims have filed complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The Philippine embassy in Italy has notified the prosecutors in Rome and the foreign affairs ministry about the alleged large-scale fraud.

On Monday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it is working with the DOJ about the complaints of “nearly 100 victims.”

“The DMW warns the public on offers of fake job offers abroad and the illegal collection of placement fees,” the DMW said.