36 members of Jaylo task force sacked

Thirty-six police and civilian operatives of the Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force (PAIRTF) were sacked from the special group for alleged involvement in "shakedown" activities.

PAIRTF chair Renaldo Jaylo said he has fired 36 of his men, including 10 police officers, following complaints of extortion and other "sting" operations.

"If ever there are mulcters among members of PAIRTF, they must be exposed and named as we assure that they will be put behind bars. We never tolerate such activities in the task force," Jaylo said in a statement.

He issued the statement in reaction to reports that Japanese and other foreign employers are now shying away from recruiting Filipinos due to alleged shakedown practices by PAIRTF.

Recruitment leaders claimed that many Japanese and Korean promoters are now hesitant to go to the Philippines because of their unpleasant experience with PAIRTF.

Local recruiters said operatives arrest foreign promoters and accused them of being illegal recruiters but eventually released them after shelling out money to the group.

Jaylo, however, belied the charges against his group and claimed that arrested foreigners are only released through legitimate representative of concerned embassies.

"If ever there are Japanese, Korean and other nationalities apprehended during the PAIRTF operations, it is a standard operating procedure to report them to their respective embassy," Jaylo explained.

He also stressed that task force operatives conduct surveillance as well as possible arrest if warranted by a mission order. Complaints against licensed agencies are referred to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

Jaylo also put the blame on some corrupt prosecutors for the anti-illegal recruitment cases filed by PAIRTF that did not prosper in court.

"There are some prosecutors in cahoots with illegal recruiters and it’s not because PAIRTF are submitting flawed charge sheets as claimed by local recruiters," Jaylo said.

Since their establishment in July last year, Jaylo said, PAIRTF has arrested 349 illegal recruiters and neutralized most of "untouchable" big time illegal recruiters operating in the country.