6 charged with estafa, illegal recruitment in Manila

Six suspects were charged with illegal recruitment and estafa of workers for supposed employment in Slovakia, the National Bureau of Investigation said on Saturday. Charged were Maya Sanchez Luague, Ronnie Luague, Alexandria Luague, Anne Marie Sanchez, Jonathan Sanchez, and Victoria Sanchez Amon. The case stemmed from the complaint of some victims who were recruited by the suspects who identified themselves as employees of John Mcgregor Marineweld Training Center in Pandacan, Manila. According to the complainants, the suspects promised to deploy them to work as welders with a monthly salary of around P130,000 after they take up four short courses. In consideration for the processing, lineup and training fees, the accused were able to collect around P600,000 from the victims. But more than a year after finishing the training courses, the suspects still failed to deploy the complainants abroad or return their money. The Department of Migrant Workers later found that the training center was not authorized to recruit workers for overseas employment and that the suspects were not licensed recruiters.

—Abby Boiser