Illegal recruitment probe done CHR-Negros Oriental recommends charges vs PESO-Lapu-Lapu manager, two others

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines - — The Commission on Human Rights-Negros Oriental has recommended the filing of appropriate charges in court against Grace Jameo, head of the Provincial Employment and Service Officer (PESO) of Lapu-Lapu City, and Buenaventura Igot and Arturo Aliason of the AB Language Training Academy.

This was after the commission wrapped up its investigation on the alleged illegal recruitment complaint, with the findings showing that Jameo "masterminded the recruitment of at least 500 applicants to enroll in the Korean language training which turned out to be illegal."

CHR provincial chief and special investigator Jess Cañete said on Tuesday that a copy of the findings of the investigation was submitted to Gov. Roel Degamo and to the provincial prosecutor's office.

Cañete, however, said he is waiting for the results of the preliminary investigation on the criminal complaints earlier filed by two groups of victims against Jameo, Igot and Aliason.

Jameo was charged with illegal recruitment and large scale estafa before the city prosecutors office, with the assistance of POEA-Manila office, which earlier said that Jameo was not authorized to conduct recruitment but to help only in the launching of the agency's e-registration program in Negros Oriental

Cañete said evidences point to Jameo as the brains in the recruitment scheme through the electronic mail she sent to PESO-Negros Oriental manager Ramon Benedicto dated Sept. 13, 2013.

The CHR will definitely file charges against them even if the prosecutor dismissed the separate cases filed earlier against them, but Cañete said Benedicto was cleared of criminal liabilities to the incident.

Cañete said Benedicto was simply acting "in good faith" when he provided assistance and support to Jameo who asked him to promote the e-registration activity and find recruits during the POEA launch in Dumaguete City.

Benedicto however could be held liable administratively for his failure to protect the interests of the constituents, in this case, the applicants who had shelled out a total of about P4 million in language training fees and modules, said Cañete.

The CHR chief said he has recommended to the governor that Benedicto be subjected to administrative proceedings for his alleged failure to uphold his moral responsibility, such as verifying whether Jameo and the language skills trainings were legitimate.

In the extracted document, Jamio requested Benedicto to send letters to Rodulfo Mondejar, president of Reactive International Korean Language Training Inc. in Lapu-Lapu City for the conduct a Korean language training in Dumaguete. His letter was required by TESDA, and another letter to the mayor of Lapu-Lapu, so that her (Jamio's) trip to Negros Oriental will be official.

Records showed that of the 320 applicants who enrolled in the first batch, only 260 completed the training with P8,850 total payments from each of the enrollees, but without receipts, and 110 applicants for the second batch, or a total of 370 applicants from Dumaguete and nearby towns, excluding Bayawan City.  (FREEMAN)