2 women tagged in P300 million recruitment scam

MANILA, Philippines — Police in Sampaloc, Manila are on the lookout for two women who allegedly duped P300 million from jobseekers hoping to work at a dairy farm in New Zealand. 

More than 60 victims filed a complaint with the Sampaloc police station on Friday against alleged illegal recruiters Yvette Valdez and Analyn Robiaz.

Case investigator Police Officer 1 Danilo Kabigting yesterday said the victims went to the suspects’ residence along Batanes street in Sampaloc, Manila to pay P300,000 each as placement fee for a chance to work as a dairy farmer in New Zealand.

The victims tried to reach out to the illegal recruiters a week before their scheduled flight, but the suspects disappeared.

Kabigting said their investigation showed that the suspects’ travel agency, RYVT Travel Tour and Services, was apparently not accredited with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

Police will file charges of syndicated large-scale illegal recruitment and syndicated large-scale estafa against the two suspects.

Kabigting urged the public to report recruitment agencies that conduct suspicious transactions in public places, such as malls and fastfood restaurants, as well as check the agencies’ status with the POEA.