Nine persons in Cebu were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 for alleged illegal recruitment.
The nine reportedly promised jobs in the agriculture sector in Australia to thousands of applicants.
However, the NBI found out that the recruitment activity is bogus.
An actual footage of the entrapment operation was recorded in Barangay Pooc, Talisay City, Cebu Province on May 12, 2024.
NBI personnel caught in the act the illegal recruitment seminar attended by a number of persons that led to the arrest of the nine, according to Atty. Renan Augustus Oliva, NBI 7 director.
The persons were taken to the NBI Central Visayas Regional Office and were charged at the Talisay City Prosecutor's Office for large-scale and syndicated illegal recruitment.
NBI disclosed on purpose the identities of the suspects to inform other victims.
The suspects are Alice Dumdum Rondez, Cristina Arcilla Tamayo, Glenard Musngi, Leon Alegado, Eliza Toñacao, Lemuel Ahito, Levert Fuentes, Librada Jumanguin, and Jocelyn Resaba.
Florante Gaoiran, NBI 7 agent on case, said that they received a complaint on the illegal recruitment in 2023. The attendees to the seminar were required to pay.
The applicants were targeted to be members of groups to entice other members to join.
Those who have been “recruited” were tasked to recruit other persons on the promise to avail of early flight slots to Australia such as what was promised to victims Leonardo Sedurifa, Perly Tumbiga, and Joseph Belantal.
The dynamics resemble the pyramiding scheme.
Other victims from different towns in Cebu Province showed up at the NBI regional office.
The complainants said that the scheme started actually in 2017, that already duped over a thousand individuals including those from outside of Cebu.
NBI verified with the Department of Migrant Workers that confirmed the suspects have operated a bogus overseas job recruitment.
In fact, Rondez was found to have long been severed from the company she has continued to represent to persuade applicants.
However, the suspects in detention denied vehemently the charges.
The others reasoned out that they are victims, too, as they are part of the recruitment team promised to be accorded flight priority to Australia if they volunteer for the group work.
Lemuel Ahito, Leon Alegado, and Levert Fuentes are among those who expressed their regret at joining the group, saying their aspiration to get to Australia has ended behind bars.
NBI pointed out that it is their intention to reveal the faces and identities of the suspects to encourage other victims to come forward at NBI 7 and file additional cases.