NBI arrests ex-OFW for illegal recruitment in Davao del Norte

TAGUM CITY, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation has arrested a former overseas Filipino worker in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, for allegedly duping six people about non-existent jobs abroad in exchange for money.

Orlando Rivas was apprehended by NBI agents during an entrapment operation at a mall in this city on Tuesday, Samuel Balisi, NBI Tagum district chief, said.

The 33-year-old suspect was arrested after some of the victims sought NBI assistance and reported his alleged illegal recruitment activities on Monday, Balisi told reporters on Wednesday.

“Among the victims were his friends or family acquaintances. His modus was to pass himself off as a representative of a company that offered jobs in the Middle East, particularly in Dubai,” said Balisi.

Rivas allegedly showed an employment contract from the Cube Designing and Advertising Company, posing as a representative of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)-accredited firm, and demand money from unsuspecting applicants.

So far, the suspect has already collected some P230,000 cash from the six complainants, Balisi said, but the NBI official believed Rivas’ victims could be more.

“Some of the complainants said they even had to borrow at high interest just to raise money to grab the jobs the suspect allegedly promised them. The alleged recruitment and payoff happened last year (2014),” said Balisi.

Asked by reporters, the suspect denied he was into illegal recruitment, although he admitted receiving money from several people who had asked for his help to get jobs in Dubai.

The suspect said he was jobless but used to work as an OFW in Dubai.

Balisi said charges of large-scale illegal recruitment, a non-bailable offense, have been lodged against Rivas before the Tagum City prosecutor’s office.

He also cautioned the public against falling prey to illegal recruitment schemes by double-checking job vacancies offered by recruitment agencies and by verifying if the recruitment agencies have been duly accredited by the Department of Labor and Employment, POEA and other government agencies.

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