Alleged notorious illegal recruiter Isidro Rodriguez gets 11 years

A Manila court has sentenced an illegal recruiter to 11 years in jail after finding him guilty of duping a Filipina he promised a teaching job in the United States, the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC said Tuesday.

The embassy welcomed the conviction of Isidro Rodriguez by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 25 for illegal recruitment and estafa.

Manila RTC Branch 25 found Rodriguez guilty of simple illegal recruitment and estafa for failing to deploy teacher who paid him $5,000

— PhilippineEmbassy DC (@philippinesusa) November 25, 2014

It said Rodriguez, who allegedly failed to deploy a teacher who paid him $5,000, has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and a P300,000 fine.

Rodriguez sentenced to suffer straight penalty of 7 years imprisonment and P300K fine for illegal recruitment #Philippines

— PhilippineEmbassy DC (@philippinesusa) November 25, 2014

The court also sentenced Rodriguez to another four years and two months to 20 years for estafa.

Court also sentenced Rodriguez to 4 years and 2 months in prison to 20 years for estafa #Philippines

— PhilippineEmbassy DC (@philippinesusa) November 25, 2014

It likewise ordered Rodriguez to indemnify a teacher with P250,000 in damages.

The embassy said Rodriguez tops the Philippine list of illegal recruiters and traffickers and is a subject of a manhunt. He also faces 20 other cases involving 73 complainants pending before various courts and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Victimized 1k teachers

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia Jr. had pushed for Rodriguez's arrest, for allegedly victimizing almost 1,000 Filipino teachers he promised non-existent jobs in the US.

The embassy said it has been working with non-government organizations led by Migrant Heritage Commission since 2006 to give assistance to Rodriguez's victims.

Last October, the embassy assured Filipino teachers there they are going after Rodriguez.

Militant group Gabriela USA described Rodriguez as a recruitment agency owner and suspected human trafficker. It claimed Rodriguez had "illegally recruited and trafficked" to the US several batches of teachers since 2003.

It said case complaints have been reported to Philippine embassy officials in the past as well as to the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA).

"However, the response from the Philippine government has been inadequate and unsatisfactory," it said.

Released last May

Gabriela USA said it received information that Rodriguez was released last May 8 "due to the settlement of some teachers from the first batch, but this disregards a significantly larger number of teachers pursuing cases against him."

Meanwhile, Cuisia urged other Filipino trafficking victims in the US to step forward as he assured them of embassy assistance. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News