NBI agents nab Illegal recruiter

Operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation arrested yesterday a suspected illegal recruiter in the act of receiving money from her victim during an entrapment operation in Mandaue City.

Fe Ramirez of barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City was arrested inside the Prince Warehouse Club shortly before noon when she demanded additional $1,300 from Orlando Tizon Jr. on top of the P46,000 that she already collected from him.

Tizon, who used to work as warehouseman in one of the companies at the Mactan Export Processing Zone, said Ramirez promised him a high-paying job in Dubai. Tizon said he met Ramirez at the Department of Foreign Affairs when he applied for his passport.

Ramirez allegedly offered to help him find a job in Dubai with a monthly salary of P20,000. The suspect demanded P46,000 from him for his visa and plane ticket. He was even ordered to resign from his job at the MEPZ.

Thinking that the promised job in Dubai was true, Tizon gave up his job at the Lear Corporation. He said he was supposed to leave for Dubai last April 7, as promised by Ramirez.

Although Ramirez failed to send him to Dubai, the suspect even asked for additional $1,300 as placement fee.

Tizon said he was thankful that a friend was able to warn him that Ramirez could be an illegal recruiter, prompting him to seek the help of the NBI.

Initial investigation conducted by the NBI showed that Ramirez was not authorized by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to recruit workers for overseas.

An entrapment operation was immediately held, which resulted to the arrest of the suspect, who is currently detained at the NBI office pending the filing of the case against her. — Fred P. Languido/LPM