BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The Office of the City Prosecutor has given the five suspects in an illegal recruitment case 15 days to answer the raps filed against them by the city prosecutor handling the case.
Lawyer Renoir O. Baldovino, agent in charge of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Sub-Regional Office told reporters the suspects are now being detained by the NBI.
He added tthe accused will wait for 15 days after passing their counter-affidavit to the prosecutor who will decide to file the case before the court.
The following suspects who were nabbed during the entrapment operation by the NBI were Sandy Ginete Agena, Maricar Mercader Bangcale, Arlene Espinosa Alonday, Richard Sumicad Hiponia, and Ma. Therese Maningo Aragon, all residents of Bacolod, are part of KAS-A & SMV Management Consultancy.
They might be charged for violating the laws related to migrant workers, cybercrime prevention, and swindling.
The five complainants came forward to the bureau after they were told countless excuses why they still can’t be deployed to Japan and Australia after paying money ranging from P50,000 to P160,000, undergoing two months of Nihonggo classes, and submitting the required documents to the consultancy.
Baldovino also said ththere might be more than five victims who are still yet to come forward.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) warned to avoid applying at “recruitment agencies not licensed” by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), now Department of Migrant Workers (DMV).
It also added to avoid dealing with “licensed agencies without job orders” and transacting with “any person who is not an authorized representative of a licensed agency.”
POEA’s Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch can be reached using their telephone number 722-11-92 or one can visit the nearest NBI or Philippine National Police (PNP) office to report possible illegal recruitment activities.
