4 women nabbed for illegal recruitment

CEBU, Philippines - Four women accused of illegal recruitment are now detained at the Carmen Police Station stockade after some of their victims reported their questionable dealings to the police.

More than 20 persons said they lost a combined total of P1.2 million cash after they were victimized by sisters Eve Condevillamar, 36; and Ivy Condevillamar, 38; as well as their mother Emma Condevillamar, 59, all of Barangay Poblacion, Carmen. Also arrested was their errand girl Maria Gemma Asada, 46, of Barangay Estaca, Compostela.

Of the 20 victims, only 11 signed their affidavits for the filing of charges for large-scale estafa against the suspects today. They were identified as Jun Branzuela, Marcial Sanchez, Dann Ledesma, Marianito Miralles, Letecia Bejoc, Arjilee Owen, Marivic Argraño, Marie Clear Combate, Carolina Rodrigo, Joannes Abello and Jackelyn Caracut.

A citizen’s arrest was made against Eve and Emma at their house in Barangay Cogon, Tuburan, Thursday afternoon, while Asada and Ivy were arrested by the Carmen police during an entrapment operation yesterday morning in the same barangay.

Senior Insp. Bonifacio Arriesgado, chief of the Carmen Police Station, said that some of the victims already went to Manila for the “orientation” to be conducted by their “employer”.

“Gaduda na ‘ning mga biktima kay mura man sila’g gikomedyahan lang kuno,” he said.

Ivy allegedly assured the victims that Eve, who she said works in the United Kingdom, already called up the employer for their application. But upon further questioning, Ivy accidentally disclosed that Eve is actually in Tuburan town to celebrate the birthday of her child.

This prompted the victims to immediately go to Tuburan and arrested Eve and Emma, they were then turned over to the Tuburan police who also handed them over to the Carmen Police Station.

The coordination of the victims and the police then led to the arrest of Asada and Eve.

Arriesgado said that the Mandaue City Police Office called them and informed that they have five of the complainants listed in their police blotter.

 Senior Police Officer 2 Danilo Laurente also said that the victims of the suspected illegal recruiters were not only from Cebu Province but also from Davao and Manila.  - (THE FREEMAN)