CIDG nabs alleged illegal recruiter in Laguna

A suspected illegal recruiter accused of charging her clients thousands of pesos worth of "processing fees" was arrested by police operatives in Cabuyao, Laguna.

The suspect, identified as Marieta Donton, is now facing raps for illegal recruitment and estafa, according to a report by Jamie Santos on Balitanghali on Saturday.

Video of the entrapment operation showed her at a restaurant, speaking to a client about an apple-picking job in Canada. She was arrested immediately after accepting cash from the client.

"Hindi ako tatakas!" Donton was heard saying.

Operatives from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Laguna conducted the operation after the complainants, a mother and her daughter, suspected they were being scammed after Donton failed to issue them any receipts during their transactions.

"Dati, fifteen [thousand]. Sabi niya gagawin niya akong bisor. Twenty-five [thousand] na hiningi niya sa akin pang-processing," the mother said.

"Nakaka-ilang bigay na. Sabi ko nga, baka hindi totoo kasi wala naman siyang binibigay na resibo. Kaya nag-decide na kami na isumbong na nga po sa pulis," her daughter added.

The suspect was emotional behind bars as she denied the allegations, mentioning names of several radio and TV personalities who she claimed were her friends.

"Andito sa kulungan. Pinakulong ng mga tao na tinutulungan ko lang. Hindi ako dapat ikulong," Donton said.

"I'm not estafa! I'm not illegal recruiter!" she added.

Nevertheless, the complainants were determined to file cases of illegal recruitment and estafa against the suspect.

"Kahit hindi po mabawi 'yung pera, mapakulong na lang po siya. Itutuloy po namin ang demanda," they said.

"Nananawagan po kami dito sa mga maaaring naging biktima nitong suspek at pumunta lang po kayo dito sa aming opisina sa CIDG-Laguna field unit," Police Chief Inspector Zyrus Michael Serrano of CIDG-Laguna said. —Margaret Claire Layug/KG, GMA News