DOLE: 17 complainants arrest illegal recruiter for fake UAE jobs

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday said 17 complainants conducted a citizen's arrest on an alleged illegal recruiter for fake jobs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). At the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) head office along EDSA in Mandaluyong City on August 29, the 17 victims arrested Sandy Rhein Absalom Espina, a.k.a. Sandrino Rafael Espina/Sandy Rein Espina. In a news release, POEA head Hans Leo Cacdac said their verification showed Espina was "not authorized nor licensed" to recruit workers for overseas employment.

 

Cacdac said two other alleged illegal recruiters — Aldrin Chua and Cathy Molinar — believed to be working Espina, are still at large. Cacdac said the three suspects promised the jobseekers work in Dubai or Abu Dhabi as salesman, driver, saleslady, room boy, waiter, and sales supervisor.

 

“I commend the courage and vigilance of the complainant workers in conducting a citizen’s arrest to an alleged illegal recruiter and putting a stop to this nefarious activity which puts our prospective overseas Filipino workers at a disadvantage and in distress,” DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said after learning of the arrest.

 

With help from the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), the POEA Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch lodged a complaint against Espina for syndicated and large-scale swindling.

 

At the inquest proceeding, Cacdac said Espina opted not to file a counter-affidavit. The inquest was thus terminated and the case was submitted for resolution.

 

On Aug. 30, Presidential Task Force on Anti-Illegal Recruitment (PTFAIR) head Melchor Dizon referred the complaints of the 17 jobseekers to the office of Prosecutor General Claro Arellano agaist Espina, Chua, and Molinar.

 

The 17 complainants are: Elvis Tacus, Michelle Ann Villanueva, Marvin Villanueva, Maricel Lorenzo, Maria Cecilia Tacus, Karen Grace Escarda, Delia Laeno, Ryan Andres, Raquel Bali, Cherrie Ann Cajigal, Crisenta Suclo, Marc Joseph Fortuito, Marvin Baldugo, Eddie Cabuang, John Clifford Cabias, Robert Sampayan Jr., and Julian A. Ratuita, Jr. - VVP, GMA News