IELTS provider considers filing charges vs. CIDG-7

The ANZ International is contemplating on filing charges against the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 and the International Development Program for the mess they allegedly brought to its office.

This after the more than 40 professionals the ANZ has assisted to take the International English Language Testing System blamed the company for their failure to take the test last Saturday.

ANZ International legal counsel Santiago Ortiz, in a press conference, yesterday said the incident has caused troubles to his client Anabel Diez who according to him was not at fault as to why the complainants were not able to take the IELTS.

“It is not the fault of my client; it is the IDP’s,” Ortiz said citing that the reason is the sudden change of policy of the IDP towards examinees - referred to as candidates - who were not able to settle payments.

IELTS is recognized in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and some countries in Europe where English is used as communication. Each candidate was asked to pay P8,640 for the IELTS that IDP gave with ANZ International as the pioneer agent in the Visayas of the IDP to provide candidates.

Ortiz said they have proofs to show that the IDP has sent a confirmation e-mail of the list of the candidates that were allowed to take the IELTS, but on Friday midnight Diez received a call from the IDP informing her that some of her candidates will not be allowed to take the examinations and will be rescheduled on April 24.

“We are contemplating filing of charges for any possible liabilities that the IDP and the CIDG may have in this issue,” Ortiz said.

Diez understood the sentiments of the candidates who prepared for the examination, but who learned on the eleventh hour that they have no examinations to attend to.

Diez was put under citizen’s arrest after she failed to convince the candidates on the terms promised by IDP to ANZ International that they would be allowed to take the April 24 examination.

Teary-eyed Diez narrated her anguish on the manner she was arrested and taken to the CIDG-7. She said nobody from the police force told her and her office assistant Mary Ellen Flor Barimbao that they would be arrested when they arrived at the CIDG-7. — Edwin Ian Melecio/MEEV