Recruiter of ex-soldiers to Iraq nabbed

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a Filipino-American tagged in the illegal recruitment of more than 100 retired soldiers for work in US facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Joint elements of the NBI and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) nabbed Mark Rae Villacruzes, of Zapote, Las Piñas over the weekend after eight retired military men complained that the suspect gave them their $1,000 monthly salary, but failed to give them the agreed $9,000 "war compensation" to cover their six-month stint in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The NBI said Danilo Besa, president of recruitment agency Armstrong Resources Corp. located in Mandaluyong City, eluded arrest.

Since March 2004, Villacruzes has reportedly been recruiting retired or AWOL soldiers as well as former SWAT officers to work at the US facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The government earlier banned the deployment of Filipino workers to Iraq.

NBI Acting Director Nestor Mantaring said ex-soldiers were hired as "mercenaries."

Villacruzes claimed he represents Blackwater USA and Triple Canopy Group Inc., a security agency based in Chicago, Illinois. However, POEA records that the two companies were not accredited principals with their office.

Assistant Regional Director Vicente de Guzman III, of the NBI-Special Action Unit (SAU), said Villacruzes hired people "with combat experience."

"In their application, they were hired as fixed site security officers. They are tasked with securing buildings, oftentimes a US installation," he said.

Director Noriel Devanadera, of the POEA Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch (AIRB), said eight retired soldiers who joined the tour in Iraq and Afghanistan went to their office to complain that Villacruzes failed to pay them "war compensation."

Among those who complained before the POEA and NBI were Leonido Battaler, Romeo Borela, Avelino Dimacutac, Wilson Flores, Romeo Kalaw Jr., Nestor Mora, Efren Poster, Benjamin Rempis Jr., and Richard Saplala.

The complainants received information that Villacruzes was back in the country and was again recruiting for a second batch of soldiers to be deployed to the two countries.

"We therefore warn the public in dealing with persons who are engaged in similar activities. They should weigh the consequences of promises of high pay versus the danger of their lives and families." Mantaring said.

He added that the soldiers were able to circumvent the government’s strict deployment ban to Iraq and Afghanistan by first traveling to Thailand, then taking a flight to Jordan and finally to the country of destination.

The NBI filed charges for large scale illegal recruitment against Villacruzes. However, he was ordered released by the DOJ for further investigation. — Evelyn Macairan