CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted an alleged illegal recruiter for violation of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 after finding probable cause in a complaint lodged by the National Bureau of Investigation.
City prosecutor Nicolas Sellon approved the indictment against Erlinda Jamaldin and elevated the criminal case for violation of Republic Act 8042 before the Regional Trial Court. He also recommended a P24,000 bail.
The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Alejandro Gentapa before the NBI in 2007. Gentapa said he was recruited by Jamaldin in 2007 to work as a salesman in Dubai.
The complainant said the accused misrepresented herself to be a legitimate recruiter with EPG Travel and Consultancy Services with office address located at the second floor, Gemini Building, T. Padilla, Cebu City.
Gentapa said he was promised to be deployed in Dubai as a salesman with a monthly salary of P35,000 a month. According to Gentapa, he was made to pay P15,000 as a placement fee with the promise that in one month’s time he will be deployed to Dubai.
However, five months had passed since he paid the placement fee the accused failed to deliver her promise prompting Gentapa to demand a refund of his payment.
According to the complaint, the accused refused to refund the money, thus, he sought the NBI assistance.
An investigation conducted by the NBI revealed that Jamaldin and even her agency is not authorized by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to recruit workers for abroad. The NBI investigation also revealed that Gentapa was not the only victim of Jamaldin.
Based on the information gathered by the agent investigating the case there were five others who were also recruited by Jamaldin but none of them complained to the NBI. — Fred P. Languido/BRP (FREEMAN NEWS)