CIDG nabs man for illegal recruitment

MANILA, Philippines — A suspected illegal recruiter who allegedly duped six people of P480,000 by promising non-existent jobs in Japan was arrested in Pasay City on Friday.

Alfred Garcia was caught by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in a sting in a restaurant along Arnaiz Avenue at around 4:30 p.m.

Superintendent Roque Merdegia, who heads the CIDG’s Anti-Transnational Crime Unit (ATCU), said Garcia asked P80,000 from each victim for deployment in Japan as farm workers. However, the victims later learned that Garcia is not a licensed recruiter when they inquired at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

“He has been doing his illegal activities for five years,” Merdegia said in a text message.

Garcia is facing charges of illegal recruitment and estafa.