"Illegal" recruiter falls

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged illegal recruiter who promised six women job placements at the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) in Lapu-Lapu City was arrested in an entrapment operation Wednesday evening at a fastfood outlet along the M.C. Briones national highway in barangay Bakilid, Mandaue City.

Gladilyn Tamayo, 42, of lower Tingub, Mandaue City was arrested by a team led by Subangdaku police station chief P/Insp. Ramil Morpos after three of six women, who were promised jobs as factory workers at the MEPZ, lodged a complaint.

Allegedly gypped were identified as Gladys Monsales, 23, single, Janice Monsales, 25, single, both residents of barangay Lower Tabok and Janarie Caramelo of barangay Paknaan, all in Mandaue City who accused Tamayo of deceiving them.

Police said last July 30, Tamayo and one of the six women met at a dental clinic at barangay Guizo in Mandaue City.

Tamayo allegedly befriended her and offered her a job at a company at MEPZ.

Tamayo then asked for P680 as payment for her medical examination.

The unsuspecting woman informed two of her friends about the hiring.

They then went to see Tamayo at a fastfood outlet along M. C. Briones Street. There, each of them gave Tamayo P680.

The following day, the three women met again with Tamayo at an uptown mall in Cebu City for the submission of their identification cards and for their medical check-ups in a nearby laboratory.

Monsales, who was one the women who “recruited,” asked Tamayo if she had already processed their papers. She was told their documents were already sent to the company.

However, when Tamayo opened her bag, Monsales saw their papers folded inside the bag.

She said she started to become suspicious.

They then went to the laboratory where Tamayo was supposed to bring them for their medical examination.

But the establishment said it only performs urinalysis which only costs P40.

The women then went to the Subangdaku police station wherein an entrapment operation was later hatched.

Monsales then telephoned Tamayo and told her that they meet at back of the fastfood outlet because another friend is also interested to apply for the job.

At the area, Monsales handed the money to Tamayo and an arrest was made.

Monsales then called Tamayo’s husband and informed him about his wife’s activities.

The husband said he was glad she was finally arrested because she had victimized a number of people.

When interviewed, Tamayo admitted there was no job at all and she had deceived people due to hardship.

She said the support she got from her husband is not enough to feed their seven children.

Morpos said they will go over her background to check whether she had allegedly illegally acquired a land title.

After her arrest, she said her name was Joy Urtiza but police found out her real name is Gladilyn Tamayo.

Tamayo is now detained at the Subangdaku police station pending the filing of an illegal recruitment case against her. - THE FREEMAN