American held in Cebu for ‘illegal recruitment’

CEBU CITY — A 42-year-old American was nabbed for alleged illegal recruitment by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in an entrapment Sunday night.

Randal Wayne Niblett, alias Randy Torny, allegedly made off with thousands of pesos from Filipino applicants who paid as high as P62,890 each as premium processing fee for supposed jobs in San Francisco, California.

Niblett reportedly started recruiting last August, telling applicants they would be working under Studio Schock Marketing as soon as they reached San Francisco.

Since the recruitment started, more than 30 people had been enticed to apply by Niblett, who was described as very persuasive.

Sometime last September, Niblett reportedly conducted an orientation here on the jobs supposedly awaiting the applicants in San Francisco.

Last Jan. 24, Niblett reportedly collected the fees from the applicants, although only two were able to pay the full amount.

In return, Niblett allegedly promised to give the applicants their plane tickets but until now none of them have received the tickets.

At least seven applicants sought the assistance of the regional office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency last March 19, but the agency referred them to the CIDG.

After confirming that Niblett’s operations were illegal, the CIDG set up the entrapment. Last Sunday, two of the applicants brought "boodle money" to Niblett at a fastfood outlet at Fuente Osmeña.

CIDG legal officer Enrique Lacerna said it will be difficult to determine how much money Niblett actually collected from his victims because he has not talked to all of Niblett’s applicants.

Charges of illegal recruitment and estafa have been filed against Niblett and two of his alleged conspirators, identified as Ricky Ceniza and Gia Sevilla, both of whom are still at large.

Niblett and his lawyers refused to issue a statement about the case. — Freeman News Service