THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 yesterday filed criminal charges against an American national, who allegedly operates a call center in Cebu City without a permit.
Lawyer Ricardo Diaz, NBI 7 assistant director, filed the complaint before the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor, accusing Jason Jeremiah Gentry of violating Art. 302 of Presidential Decree 442 (Labor Code of the Philippines).
Gentry allegedly operates several call centers without securing an alien employment permit from the Department of Labor and Employment 7, the NBI 7 said.
NBI 7 operatives brought Gentry to the prosecutor’s office where he underwent inquest proceedings before Assistant City Prosecutor Alex Gabud.
The American refused to be interviewed when reporters asked for his reaction on the filing of charges.
NBI 7 operatives arrested Gentry while he was interviewing a job applicant in the basement of Onael Bldg. on Don. Gil Garcia St., Barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City last Oct. 10.
Malazarte
His arrest came after Regional Trial Court Judge Samuel Malazarte issued the search warrant for Gentry’s office.
Gentry failed to present an alien employment permit prompting the NBI 7 agents to arrest him inside his business process outsourcing Integricall.
Gentry’s modus came to light after certain Oscar Razzour of Avatar Technologies Philippines requested the NBI in Western Visayas to conduct an investigation on the complaint filed by former employees of the American in Iloilo City.
The tourist allegedly violated non-disclosure, non-compete provision of his contract with Avatar and other labor law violations.
Authorities later discovered Gentry’s alleged illegal activities in Cebu City, prompting the NBI 7 to apply for a search warrant against the American.
The NBI 7 served the warrant on Gentry past 12 a.m. on Oct. 10.
The NBI 7 agents also seized Gentry’s laptop, employment contract, lease contract, DOLE acknowledgment receipt, and certificate of incorporation issued by Security and Exchange Commission, among other documentary evidence.