FOR allegedly offering non-existent jobs to four persons in Australia, a call center owner and her 15 employees were caught in an entrapment by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 in Minglanilla last Tuesday afternoon.
Intertech 888 owner Kirby Racaza-Silva was caught inside Gee-Ann Arcade in Barangay Sangi.
“She doesn’t have a license to recruit,” said NBI 7 Director Antonio Pagatpat.
The NBI also detained staff members Jennylyn Paz, Robelyn Abellaneda, Razel Hilacan, Belladona Librea, Ciprain Duno, Marnely Dunio, Christian Rey Sameon, Mark Antony Nadela, Elmar Echavez, Alexzander Toong, Aris Beniga, Francesca Damolo, Kate Joanne Lastimado, Rem Johnson Cabreras and Dustin Fuentes.
They allegedly asked an applicant to pay the P20,000 assessment fee. Upon giving downpayment of P10,000, he is promised a slot in Australia.
Pagatpat said the suspects will be charged before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office with illegal recruitment in large scale.
Before the arrest at 4 p.m., the NBI received complaints about Silva’s alleged illegal recruitment activity.
Call center
The suspect’s firm was allegedly disguised as a call center, but its employees were actually scouting for an Australian company in need of Filipino workers, said Pagatpat.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Silva’s firm is not authorized to recruit workers.
Complainants are Jennifer Brioso, Michelle Enguio, Ciriaco Asumbrado Jr. and Gerald Ian Alcover. They sought help from the NBI, after they noticed that their applications were not processed by the suspects.
They were allegedly offered a four-year contract and a salary ranging from Australian $5,000 to $6,000 per month.
Deal
Complainants were promised that their board and lodging would be free for their first year of work. Their plane tickets would also be shouldered by their future employers.
The agents and three of the complainants went to Intertech’s old office in Upper Tulay at 3:30 p.m. Each victim pretended to pay the remaining dues using marked bills of P1,500.
But when they learned Silva’s office transferred to Gee-Ann Arcade, they went to the place and their fees were allegedly received by Paz.
After the transaction was completed, the agents rushed inside Intertech’s office and arrested the suspects.