QUEZON City police operatives arrested six staff members and agents of a recruitment agency for illegal recruitment and human trafficking in Quezon City last Monday night.
The six — Aida Agpas, Mae Angeline Miranda, Liezel Calantoc, Marc Devin Cachero, Vivian Puzon, and Edelyn Gines Medyaz — worked at the Jewel Travel Documentation Service in Bago Bantay, Quezon City.
They were nabbed based on the complaint of 177 job seekers, led by Alfredo Villanueva Jr., at around 10 a.m. last Monday at the office of the recruitment agency.
Three other staffers of the agency identified as Alexander Natividad, alias Cedric; Pearly Sanchez; and Elizeus Bautista Buztraha, alias Enrico Romualdez; are at large.
Police said the complainants are applying for jobs overseas, such as in Canada, Poland, New Zealand and Australia.
The victims were promised fast processing of their application if they will pay P200,000 to P300,00 each or P43 million in total.
Police said the complainants, through verification, found out that the agency is not authorized to recruit employees to these countries.
The complainants promptly lodged a complaint, leading to the arrest of the suspects who are facing charges of illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
Seized during the operation were a Toyota Hi-Ace van, P100,000 in cash, a business permit from the Quezon City government and other documents.
