VP NOLI TELLS JOBSEEKERS TO BE WARY OF ILLEGAL RECRUITERS
February 3, 2009

Vice President and Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment (TFAIR) chairman Noli "Kabayan"

De Castro warned yesterday those who are looking for jobs to be extra cautious in dealing with people who offer lucrative job opportunities.

"With the present employment woes, we know many illegal recruiters will take advantage of the dire need of many to seek employment. I ask the public to be on guard against fraudulent schemes set up by unscrupulous individuals," De Castro said.

De Castro declared that TFAIR is determined to run after illegal recruiters and that their days are numbered.

Last January 31 (Saturday) 3 suspects were arrested in entrapment operation by the TFAIR in Ermita, Manila. Caught in the act of illegally recruiting applicants as OFWs at their office in Ermita were Sheridan Reyes Bucao, 35, of Pasay City, Celine Gerardo Wahid, 29, of Pandacan, Manila, and William Arafiles Laddaran, 49, of San Mariano, Sta. Marcela, Apayao.

The arrest was made based on the complaint of Marilou and Maria Christina Lopez of September St., Tondo, Manila who were maltreated by their employer in Lebanon after being deployed by the suspects in March last year.

According to TFAIR Director for operations Col. Gilbert Sosa, the Lopezes were among the 87 victims of illegal recruitment who were reported sexually assaulted by Lebanese employers. The victims were also denied of their salaries. They were repatriated to the Philippines last January 9 this year.

In his report to De Castro, Sosa said the suspects through their firm identified as Job Trade Recruitment Agency continues to recruit overseas job seekers despite having an expired POEA license. He reported that the recruitment agency have likewise defied orders from the government to ban deployment of OFWs to Lebanon.

"The said agency is still conducting recruitment and deployment of OFWs bound for Lebanon in gross violation of Republic Act No. 8042 otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995," Sosa said.

Sosa further said that on January 28, 2009, the suspects recruited another four male applicants who were sheltered in a residential house in Pasay City reportedly operated by the agency.

The four subsequently filed a complaint against the suspects, Sosa said.

Found in the possession of the suspects upon their arrest were 268 pieces of passport, four P500 bills, travel documents and three cellular phones. The suspects, Sosa said, were brought to Camp Crame for filing of charges.

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