NBI arrests two illegal recruiters

National Bureau of Investigation agents arrested recently two suspected illegal recruiters who collected about P20 million from about 300 prospective overseas job workers.

During a press conference held at the NBI headquarters in Manila, NBI Director Nestor Mantaring identified the two arrested suspects as Rommel Lucero Busto, 39, liaison officer of Ren-Glo Enterprises Placement Agency, and resident of Blk 30, Lot 19, E.P. Village I, Western Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila; and Albert Doctolero Apostadero, 39, businessman, and agent of the same placement agency and resident of Purok Matinapon, Bo. 5, San Jose Koronadal City, and No. 91, Int. 1, Quezon Avenue, Angono, Rizal.

Apostadero is said to be a civilian agent of the Philippine National Police. NBI operatives found in his possession an identification card of the PNP. Apostadero was arrested on May 28 in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. Busto was arrested on May 30, in his residence in Taguig.

Mantaring said that earlier, another suspect has already been arrested also by the NBI. She was identified as Rizalina de Jesus Tabajonda, 46, branch manager of Ren-Glo Enterprises, and resident of Blk. 2 Lot 1, Golden Miles Subdivision, Cainta, Rizal. She was arrested by the NBI Interpol agents on March 28 in Cainta and presently detained at the Morong, municipal jail.

Owners of the Ren-Glo, identified as lawyer Renato Tomas and his wife Gloria, have eluded arrest, and have been in hiding. The NBI has launched a manhunt against the owners of the recruitment agency.

Busto and other members of Ren-Glo had promised non-existent jobs in Madrid, Spain, as hotel chambermaids and roomboys. The company demanded and received from each applicant amounts ranging from P70,000 to P90,000 as placement fee.

Some 78 victims have filed complaints before the NBI. They have lost about P5 million to the suspects.

The NBI said that more are expected to troop to the NBI headquarters since the group reportedly defrauded about 300 prospective overseas job seekers and have lost about P20 million to the suspects.

Verification from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) revealed that the license of Ren-Glo Enterprises Placement Agency with office address at 4986 P. Guanzon Poblacion, Makati Avenue, Makati City, was already cancelled on Feb. 19, 2007, due to numerous complaints.

In spite of a cancelled permit, the owners of Ren-Glo have continued to operate. It was also revealed that Busto, Apostadero and Tabajonda were not authorized to recruit workers for overseas employment.

Apostadero has also a standing warrant of arrest issued by the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 62 for syndicated illegal recruitment.

Busto has two warrants of arrest issued by Makati RTC, Branch 61 and Branch142 for illegal recruitment.

Tabajonda has three warrants of arrest issued by the Morong RTC, Branch 79 for estafa and illegal recruitment cases.

The NBI also said that the applicants were promised jobs and salaries of at least $2,000 a month for the roomboys, and $2,800 a month for the chambermaids.

Apostadero, who was in hiding in Koronadal City earlier, had gone to Rizal province when he was able to “chat” with a supposed applicant who wanted to go to Spain on a work visa.