CIDG raids recruitment agency

Some 300 female jobseekers for Japan were rounded up by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDC) during a raid of a recruitment agency in Makati City yesterday.

CIDG operatives swooped down on the offices of the Marrick Artist Placement Services Inc. owned by one Jun Villar on Marconi street in Barangay San Isidro and on Arsonvel street also in Makati City.

Close to 300 women applying for jobs as entertainers in Japan were rounded up by the police after receiving reports that the agency was sending minors abroad. Most of the women came from Davao and the Visayas.

A report to the office of CIDG director Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao revealed that the raids were covered by the search warrants issued by the Makati City regional trial courts. At least 40 young women were classified by police as minors.

Interviewed at the CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame, the agency owner denied his involvement in the illegal recruitment of minors.

Villar said he can produce documents proving the legality of his operations.

He said some people may have given police wrong information about his agency.

"Maaring may personal grudge lang ang nagsangkot sa akin. May idea ako kung sino," Villar said.