NBI files raps vs illegal recruiter

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Bacolod Office has filed large-scale estafa charges against an alleged illegal recruiter who divested about P1.3 Million from her victims.

The suspect, identified as a certain Juna Antiojo Baltazar, was ordered detained at the NBI detention cell despite efforts for her release by three of the victims who submitted affidavits of desistance at the city fiscal’s office.

Fiscal Mercedes Saril, for her part, said she cannot act immediately on the affidavit of desistance of the victims as she has to thoroughly study them before she can make recommendations.

She stressed it would depend on the Chief City Prosecutor whether or not to order the release of the suspect in view of the desistance of the victims.

Three of the victims who participated in the entrapment reportedly entered into a compromise with the suspect together with three other victims.

NBI executive officer Cyrus Aluzan said, since the suspect was arrested Friday, her victims continue to crop up at the NBI office to file charges.

About 22 victims have already submitted their affidavits of complaint with the NBI against the suspect who allegedly promised them with employment abroad.

Aluzan said the suspect divested her victims of about P1.3 Million. He said a case of large-scale illegal recruitment and estafa was filed against the suspect.

However, he explained that, since the suspect was arrested in an entrapment and the victims who participated have decided to withdraw the case, there is a high possibility that the suspect will be released from detention, depending on the recommendation of the fiscal.

Other cases which underwent regular filing will undergo the usual process.

One of the complainants who is working at a mall in Bacolod City said she stopped working, as she was informed by the suspect that she is scheduled to leave for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia next month.

The victim who requested her identity withheld said that she paid the suspect about P43,000 for the promised job in Jeddah.

She claimed that she trusted the suspect after she was referred by a friend.

The 27-year old victim, who is from a town in central Negros, said that her parents sold their carabao to be able to come up with the money the suspect asked from her.

She said that she and her friends who were also victimized by the suspect believed that the latter can help them find employment abroad because she usually kept them updated and even emailed them their plane tickets.

However, when one of them checked the airline company, they found out that the tickets issued to them by the suspect were in her name and that of her child. (TDE)