Cops nab 2 illegal recruiters in Mandaluyong

Two illegal recruiters, who allegedly duped Filipinos seeking employment in Japan and Australia, were arrested by members of the Mandaluyong City Police on Monday afternoon.

Mandaluyong Police chief Sr. Supt. Moises Villaceran Jr. identified the suspects as Carolina Layag, 55, of Karuhatan, Valenzuela City; and Maria Carlota Uchi, 38, of Dasmarñas, Cavite.

Lawmen are conducting a follow-up operation to locate and arrest two cohorts of the suspects.

In a report submitted to Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Supt. Reynaldo Biay, the suspects were arrested around 3:45 p.m. Monday, following an entrapment operation on the 8th floor of City Net Building on Sultan St., Brgy. Highway Hills. Layag and Uchi had already received the P4,000 marked money when accosted by authorities.

Complainants told investigators that the suspects had earlier collected P80,000 from each of them for the purported processing, documentation, and other related fees so they could start working by December 2017.

However, the suspects asked for additional P10,000 to supposedly complete their application. This prompted the victims to doubt the suspects, and later file a complaint with the Mandaluyong  City Police.

According to the victims, they came to know the suspects via Facebook and were enticed to apply.

But the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) had confirmed that the suspects are not connected to UniPlan Overseas Employment Inc., the EPD said.

Villaceran said that Layag and Uchi were charged with large-scale estafa and illegal recruitment.                   /kga