2 illegal recruiters arrested

MANILA, Philippines - Two illegal recruiters who allegedly gypped 13 applicants of some P2 million for non-existent jobs abroad have been arrested by the police in separate entrapment operations in Ermita, Manila.

Emelinda Layug, 49, who misrepresented herself as an employee of Kultura Travel and Tours, and Alexander Abuan, 47, who introduced himself as marketing assistant of MedRP Recruitment Agency, were nabbed by anti-crime operatives led by SPO4 Carlos Chan after receiving marked money from their victims, according to Ermita police station chief Superintendent Jose Hidalgo Jr.

After verification from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, police found out that Layug is not an employee of Kultura Travel, while MedRP is a licensed agency but the job order for Canada which Abuan has been telling his victims has no accreditation from the POEA and its foreign principal.

The victims told Hidalgo that the two suspects had promised them jobs as factory workers in Canada and Korea with a monthly salary ranging from P55,000 to P120,000. Each of the victim reportedly shelled out from P60,000 to P100,000 since May last year but failed to leave for abroad. Sensing they were duped, the victims sought police assistance.

The two suspects asked for more money from the victims, hence entrapment operations were laid down by the police, Hidalgo said.

Hidalgo, who is only a week old to his post, vowed to crack hard on recruitment syndicates after observing that his area of jurisdiction is haven to illegal recruitment activities with several Ermita offices being used as front for their illegal operations.

The two suspects were charged with large-scale estafa, a non-bailable offense. – Nestor Etolle