NBI agents entrap 3 lady illegal recruiters

BAGUIO CITY – National Bureau of Investigation agents  arrested three ladies connected with a visa consultancy firm engaged in unauthorized recruitment of workers for alleged job placements in Ireland in an entrapment operation.

Agents arrested March 17 Glenda F. Tabulog, Rhealyn D. Saar and Clairemar T. Alcayde at their office at Lehi International Visa Consultancy, Room. 310-A Lopez Building, Session Road here after they received entrapment money from  complainant.

Complainant Marvin G. Naling alleged that on Feb. 2, he went to the office of Lehi International Visa Consultancy and was offered an overseas job as caregiver at Kilminchy Lodge Nursing Home in Dublin, Ireland. 

For a processing fee of P40,000, he was assured monthly salary equivalent to P138,000 net after deductions.

After reportedly being enticed with the prospect of working abroad to be able to provide for his family, Naling reportedly went back to the LIVC office Feb. 14 and gave P37,000 partial payment as processing fee. 

However, he learned later from the website of Kilminchy Lodge Nursing Home that it was not hiring new home care personnel, whether as nursing staff or caregiver. 

 It was then that he decided to seek help from the NBI.

Verification by the Bureau revealed that neither the visa consultancy firm nor those connected with it were authorized to recruit workers for overseas employment. 

The entrapment operation ensued wherein Tabulog, Saar and Alcayde were arrested after their office received from complainant the balance of his processing fee amounting to P3,000.00. 

The entrapment money was later recovered from Tabulog. 

A case for “illegal recruitment committed by a syndicate and estafa” was filed before the Baguio City Prosecutor’s Office against the respondents.

Same charges were filed against one Patricia U. Cervantes who was also involved in the recruitment of Naling but was not present during the entrapment operation.  

Those arrested were incarcerated at city jail upon the order of Inquest Prosecutor Ma. Nenita A. Opiana.

The NBI is set to file a complaint for large scale illegal recruitment and multiple estafaagainst  same persons after 45 more individuals appeared at their office and claimed to have been victims of Lehi International Visa Consultancy, using the same modus operandi. 

NBI-Cordillera director Romulo Z. Asis, who used to head the NBI anti-human trafficking division, urged overseas job applicants to always check if their recruiters are licensed or authorized by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). 

“It is only through vigilance that they can guard themselves from unscrupulous recruiters who prey on their desire to seek greener pastures abroad,” he said.