Pakistani nabbed for illegal recruitment

MANILA, Philippines - A Pakistani will soon be deported by the Bureau of Immigration after he allegedly tried to dupe 11 aspiring overseas workers in Palawan of jobs abroad.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said that Ehmad Agha, who uses the alias Salim Jan Iftikha, is presently detained at the BI detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig City.

During the course of the investigation, it was learned that Agha has a dual citizenship. Apart from being a Pakistani, he is also a British citizen. He arrived in the country either July or August last year. By the time of his arrest, the Pakistani failed to present his passport or any travel document.

A check with BI records showed that neither the name of the suspect or that of his wife appeared in the computerized travel records of the BI, thus arousing suspicion that he illegally entered the country via the backdoor. Based on the initial report submitted to Libanan, it appeared that Agha and his wife Emy Encinas allegedly offered to provide overseas work to 11 people and in return they each had to give P20,000.

The complainants then sought the help of the police when they learned that the couple was planning to leave the country without notice. The agents under Immigration Area Office (IAO) Region 5 director Jose Tria then apprehended the couple and brought them to the Puerto Princesa Police Station.