Raps filed vs ‘bogus’ recruiters

CEBU, Philippines -  The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed a formal complaint before prosecutors against alleged illegal recruiters arrested during an entrapment operation last September 24, 2013.

The NBI filed a complaint for violation of Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Filipinos Act of 1995 against Kirby Gonzales Racaza-Silva, Jennylyn Paz, Razel Hilacan and Robelyn Abellaneda.

The respondents have been released from NBI custody last week.

“This case is supposedly to be filed before the inquest prosecutor, however, private complainants failed to return to the office for the inquest until the prescriptive period lapsed considering this predicament it was opted that this case be filed for ordinary preliminary investigator,” the NBI’s transmittal documents reads.

On September 24, the NBI conducted an entrapment operation against Silva of Intertech 8888 located in Barangay Calajo-an, Minglanilla following numerous complaints filed before its office.

The complainants include Ciriaco Asumbrado, Jennifer Brioso, Michelle Enguio, and Gerald Ian Alcover.

In an affidavit, Asumbrado alleged they were offered a job in Australia as production worker with a salary range of Aus$5,000 to Aus$6,000 per month, free board and lodging for the first year, and a four-year contract. In exchange, they were required to pay 20,000 as assessment fee.

He said he was able to pay P10,000 as down payment but no job materialized.

However, they learned later that Silva was not authorized to recruit or deploy workers abroad.

During the operation led by special investigator Florante Gaoiran, the NBI arrested Silva and her staff at Unit 2 and 3 located at the second floor of GEE-ANN-Je Arcade in Sangi, Minglanilla.

NBI Regional Director Antonio Pagatpat said forensic laboratory examination confirmed that the respondents received the bust money when they tested positive of fluorescent powder on their hands.

In a joint affidavit, the arresting officers said they first went to Upper Tulay Minglanilla but learned that Silva had transferred her office to Sangi.

“While complainants proceeded to the Intertech 8888 located at Unit 2 and 3, 2nd Floor of GEE Ann Arcade to transact and paid the balance of the required assessment fee. Teodoro Saavedra, one of the NBI agents received the pre-arranged signal which meant that the three complainants had already handed the money to Kirby,” the affidavit reads.

The arresting officers then rushed to the area and recovered the marked money with fluorescent powder from Paz’ possesion, the operations manager of Intertech 8888. Reportedly, Intertech 8888 is a call center in disguise. — (FREEMAN)