Thursday, September 28, 2006 Probe bureau in pursuit of 'illegal recruiters' By Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday launched a crackdown against erring overseas job recruitment agencies following complaints that many of them are engaged in illegal activities such as tampering or falsification of travel visas.
NBI Regional Special Investigator Roland Jarilla said the campaign was initiated to warn people in the province and other areas in Central Luzon against "bogus" recruitment agencies that have mushroomed in Angeles City, preying on unsuspecting individuals.
Jarilla said two big-time recruitment agencies based in Angeles City have been the subject of complaints by 11 persons from the province. He identified the agencies as Philtalian Group of Companies, with business address in Diamond Subdivision in Angeles and Quickfly Travel and Tours.
During a follow-up operation, NBI operatives found the office of the Philtalian padlocked and "had closed shop." This prompted the investigators to suspect that the agency is fictitious. The Quickfly Travel and Tours offices have been found in the same condition.
Both agencies, Jarilla said, collected cash from their victims in exchange for an overseas job and a working visa in Dubai.
He said the victims told him that the owners of the agencies promised them high-paying jobs range from P40,000 to P70,000 a month, apparently to entice them to pay the placement fee.
The victims led by a certain Jennifer Villanueva tagged Philtalian Group of Companies owners Ronald Toledo and Marichelle Joan Toledo as those who collected money from them to expedite their travel and work abroad.
Jarilla said coordination efforts had been made with the Philippine Overseas and Employment Authority (POEA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to include the two agencies in their blacklist.
He said charges of large-scale illegal recruitment, a heinous crime punishable by life imprisonment, is being readied for filing in court against the suspects.
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