Illegal recruiter caught at NAIA

Operatives of the Airport Police Department (APD) of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) arrested a 56-year-old woman suspected of engaging in illegal recruitment.

Emelita Moya Pascua of 422 Krus na Daan, San Rafael, Bulacan, was brought to the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila Saturday after seven of her alleged victims lodged complaints against her.

In a report to APD and the Police Intelligence and Investigation Division (PIID) chief Captain Alden Gay, Corporal Roland Suarez said Pascua was arrested at the WOW restaurant of the NAIA Terminal 1.

Pascua’s alleged victims were identified as Raquel Caindoc, Edelyn Cabrera, Ingrid Cruz, Marivic Sevillena, Beverly Apple Oliver, Maricel Mappala and Doris Tayag.

They said they had been promised jobs in Dubai, in exchange for fees ranging between P35,000 and P40,000.

The complainants told APD investigators that they were told to meet a certain Kris Gonzales at the NAIA, as this person was to hand them their plane tickets and visas. They added that they were told that they were scheduled to leave for Dubai via a United Arab Emirates flight on the same day.

However, Pascua allegedly told them at the last minute that Gonzales would be unable to make it to the airport because their contact in Dubai said the visas Gonzales was to bring them had been confiscated by an Immigration officer.

When the complainants asked for their money back, Pascua said she could not refund them because the money had been deposited in the account of a certain Jessielyn Tolentino in Dubai.

Sensing that they were being scammed, the complainants sought the help of the APD after they found that they were not even on the passenger manifest of the Emirates flight to Dubai that day.

Pascua admitted that she is not a licensed recruiter, but added that she was trying to help the complainants get work overseas. – Michael Punongbayan