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Manila Police arrest 7 illegal recruiters in entrapment ops

The Manila Police District’s Special Mayor’s Reaction Team (SMaRT) has arrested 7 illegal recruiters reportedly hiring waitresses in Singapore.

Authorities have found out that the women will not become waitressss but prostitutes. The operations took place at the APP Worldwide Recruitment Services in Malate, Manila.

The entrapment operations was conducted last Friday after the Office of the Mayor received complaints from 20 applicants.

The suspects were identified as Ruben Samonte (general manager), Evelyn Samonte (marketing manager), Agnes Almoguera (clinic staff), Jocelyn Tolentino (staff), Rolando Patiag (clinic staff), Chaz Patiag (marketing staff) and Regino Tolentino (driver).

The recruitment agency has initially offered them for food service jobs and asked for thousands of pesos for training fees and medical fees.

“Ang sinabi sa amin nung alias Manuel, ‘Kung ‘di ka magpapagalaw, wala kang kikitain. Kung ‘di ka makikipag-sex, wala kang sasahurin,’” one of the victims said.

“Ni-require pa po nila kaming uminom at magpakalasing kapag kasama raw ang mga kliyente, eh hindi po kami umiinom. Pinipilit niya po kami,” the victim added.

When they refused to take on the job, the agency took their passports and threatened them that they will be blacklisted on other recruitment agencies.

The illegal recruiters will be charged for violating the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 (illegal withholding of passports), Presidential Decree No. 28 (illegal recruitment as a crime of economic sabotage), Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code (grave coercion) and Omnibus Revenue Code of Manila City.

Staff Report

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