CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 has filed a criminal complaint against a woman who allegedly recruited her former co-workers to work aboard.
Jocelyn Cabanero, resident of Barangay Valencia, Carcar City, is facing the complaint for violation of Section 6 of the Republic Act 8042 otherwise known as Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
Cabanero was accused by Arlyn Pocong and Jackylene Deniega, residents of Poblacion West and Basdiot, Moalboal, respectively, of recruiting them to work abroad.
The complainants said that sometime in August 2011 they were invited by the respondent through Facebook, to work in Dubai. According to the complainants, they personally knew the respondent since she used to be their co-worker at a factory in Danao City.
“That while chatting to her thru Facebook and Skype, she promised to us that she will help us land jobs in Dubai where is presently working,†the joint complaint-affidavit reads.
The complainants said they agreed to the invitation and paid for the processing of their travel documents to Dubai. Cabanero told them that they will be given tourist visa, which was sent to them through e-mail.
The complainants said they were surprised to receive their supposed visa because they have not submitted a single document to support their application. Nevertheless, they were told to pay a total of P109,151.75 which was deposited to the account of the respondent.
However, after depositing the amount, the respondent did not anymore communicated with them. Their Facebook accounts were also blocked.
“That after we sent the last payment on October 16, 2011, Cabanero could no longer be contacted for a reason that she blocked our account at Facebook,†the affidavit reads.
This prompted the complainants to seek the assistance of the NBI. Upon investigation, the complainants found out that Cabanero was not a licensed recruiter with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). — (FREEMAN)