The five respondents facing a complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation for the alleged “illegal recruitment” of workers for overseas employment agreed to remain under NBI custody pending preliminary investigation, during inquest proceedings Saturday, July 23.
The respondents in the complaint filed by the NBI are Sandy Ginete Agena, Marciar Mercader Bangcale, Arlene Espinosa Alonday, Richard Sumicad Hiponia, and Ma. Teresa Maningo Aragon of Bacolod City, NBI Bacolod Chief Renoir Baldovino said Sunday.
The NBI complaints lodged against them before the Office of the Bacolod City Prosecutor were for violation of Republic Act 8042 otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act as amended by RA 10022, and for violation of RA 10175 otherwise known as Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Elnathan Lim in his inquest resolution Saturday directed the respondents to file their counter affidavits and other countervailing statements within 10 days.
The five were arrested in an NBI entrapment operation at their KAS-A & SMV Management Consultancy Services office at the Yusay Arcade at Araneta Street in Bacolod City 3:30 p.m. Friday, July 22, Baldovino said.
They allegedly recruited persons for jobs in Australia and Japan, which did not materialize, without a license from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), he said.
Recruits paid placement fees ranging from P51,000 to P160,000, he added.
Baldovino said so far they have five complainants and they expect more to come forwards.
The complaints informed the NBI that there are about 100 of them who were victimized, and some are in Manila waiting for advice to go abroad, he said.
The NBI is conducting further investigation, Baldovino said.*