CHR-Negros Or. PESO: Lapu-Lapu chief summoned to answer raps

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines - — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Oriental subpoenaed the head of the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) of Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu and gave her ten days to file her counter affidavit to a joint complaint raised against her.

 CHR-Negros Oriental head Jess Cañete, on Monday disclosed that Grace Jameo, chief of PESO-Lapu-Lapu City, had until March 16 to submit her reply to the subpoena that he personally delivered to her office in Cebu.

Jameo was not around when Cañete personally delivered the subpoena, but her staff received the document, he said.

The complaint against Jameo came from at least 500 overseas job applicants in Dumaguete and nearby areas who alleged that they have paid P8,500 each, or an accumulated total of more than P4 million, to enroll in a Korean language skills training course.

The training, held in two batches late last year, was supposedly a pre-requisite for various employments in South Korea, the complainants told Cañete, who is now preparing a joint affidavit for a possible class suit against Jameo.

Before the training, Jameo allegedly met with the job applicants in an orientation, but after completion of the training, they alleged that it was a guarantee for getting jobs in that country. Furthermore, they alleged there were no official receipts for their enrolment fees, no permanent training venue and there were more than one company names being used.

Cañete also told The Freeman that the language training was not accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA).

The job applicants are now seeking justice through the CHR, for a refund of the money spent for the language training and to bring to court anybody responsible for the alleged anomaly.

Jameo has yet to air her side of the case and Cañete said that, in case she fails to submit her counter-affidavit, he will be filing a class suit for either swindling or illegal recruitment.

Meanwhile, Cañete clarified that Ramon Benedicto, the PESO manager of Negros Oriental, will also be dealt with after Jameo submits her counter affidavit, and will be investigated to determine his liability. Benedicto was expected to be fully aware of the activities being carried out by Jameo and other similar groups offering job opportunities to potential applicants, Cañete added. (FREEMAN)