Illegal recruiter in Naga charged

The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office has indicted an alleged illegal recruiter who disappeared after having collected more than P100,000 from his neighbors, to whom he promised jobs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba approved the filing in court of the case for large-scale illegal recruitment against Eldigary Burias, a resident of Naga town.

Burias was accused by his neighbors of promising them pipefitting and refrigeration works in Saudi Arabia and demanding sundry fees from P7,000 to P15,000 for their visa processing, work application, bio-data and mailing.

The complainants - Gilbert Arot, Angelito Varga, Ronald Asis, Rex Bolneo, Joel Algarme, Arsenio Panilag, Jr., Jesse Seguerra, Arnold Katigbak, Victoria Katigbak and Achilles Sayson - said they heard in February 2005 that Burias was recruiting 50 skilled workers for Saudi Arabia.

The complainants claimed that they verified the information with Burias who told them that he has contact abroad who was looking for workers through direct hiring.

They said they even listened to Burias talking over the phone in Arabic to his alleged contact abroad.

Burias allegedly distributed to them pamphlets on pipefitting and refrigeration for study and arranged some sessions for a group study in his house, prompting them to believe Burias because of the fact that he was also a former overseas worker.

According to the complainants, Burias asked them to pay for the processing of their documents and work application, adding that some of them paid P7,000 while the others gave P15,000.

Sometime in June 2005, Burias allegedly told them that their visas were ready and that they have to report to Manila for final physical examination. They were advised to meet with him on June 26, 2005 at a mall in North Reclamation Area since they will take a ship together for Manila.

However, Burias did not appear on that date and could not be located anymore in his house in Central Poblacion, Naga. The complainants said the househelp of the accused told them that Burias had already left. - Fred P. Languido/LPM