NBI nabs illegal recruiter

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday captured an alleged big-time illegal recruiter who reportedly amassed P25 million from her 65 victims whom she promised to send as overseas workers to the Middle East.

NBI assistant director Nestor Mantaring said Faridah Kanda, alias Tiffany Balboa, president of Tierra Mar Manpower Recruitment Agency was arrested in her office located at the third floor of rooms 301-303 of 1191 KIMVI Building Ma. Orosa Street, Ermita, Manila.

She was reportedly captured by elements of the NBI-National Capital Region (NCR) on the strength of a search warrant issued by Palawan and Puerto Princesa City Regional Trial Court Judge Panfilo Salva for syndicated/large-scale illegal recruitment. She was later brought to the NBI where she was booked, fingerprinted and photographed.

The NBI-NCR said, so far, of 65 complainants who went to their office filed their complaint. From each complainant, she reportedly extracted P15,000 to P100,000 for the processing and placement fees.

The victims were promised jobs as waiters, waitresses and cooks to Iraq and Dubai wherein they were told that they would receive salaries ranging from $400 to $1,700.

NBI-NCR regional director Ruel Lasala said they are now coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Dubai for the possible arrest of the suspect’s daughter Gerlie Ledesma, who is reportedly her contact in Dubai. They have forwarded a copy of the arrest warrant to the embassy.

Meanwhile, the NBI-Anti-Organized Crime Division (AOCD) chief Oscar Embido said they recently accosted Ireneo Bugay, 62, alias Rafael Santos, businessman, and a native of San Fernando City, Pampanga.

It appears that Bugay had been the subject of several warrants. "Our record check showed that there were several warrants of arrest against him issued by the courts in the cities of Manila, Makati, Paranaque, and Pasig and the provinces of Bataan, Laguna, and Iba in Zambales for various estafa, Batas Pambansa 22 or the bouncing checks law, and illegal recruitment cases."

However, Embido added, this was the first time that Bugay was arrested by the authorities. To avoid getting caught, he transfers from one place to another such as Iloilo, Cebu and Davao.

He had reportedly been engaged in illegal recruitment activities for a long time since some of the warrants against him dated as far back as the 1980s. "This is why we are appealing to the people who have been victimized by Bugay to come forward and go to our office."

At present, he is detained at the NBI jail, but his offense is a bailable offense. But if there are other complainants who would show up, he might encounter difficulty in getting out of prison.

Embido said that Bugay is often seen hanging out near the US Embassy, allegedly claiming to have connections with the Embassy located along Roxas Boulevard and could easily have their visas processed. He reportedly solicited P380,000 from at least 14 persons, including complainants Raul Sunga and Roberto Manalo, to cover the placement and processing fees for their work abroad as hospital staff.

When they returned to inquire about the progress of their application, the suspect allegedly asked each of them to pay another P8,000. Suspicious of his real motives, the victims went to the NBI who in turn arranged an entrapment at the Goldilocks in Harrison Plaza.

They arrested him after he received the marked money. They filed charges of estafa and violation of RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers Act against him and his alleged secretary Estella Villanueva, who remains at large.