July 11, 2012

      Induced by job opportunities abroad, 80 prospective overseas Filipino workers were duped of P3.2 million pesos by a labor recruiter and four (4) companions who were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) during an entrapment in Manila last Monday.

      The subject is identified as JULIET RED REMPIS, alias Juliet Rempis Lopez, with postal address at 6/F Room 615, MBI Bldg., Escolta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila;

   EVELYN AGUIRRE GUNDA;

   EDGARDO MATA DARIA HONTIVEROS;

   LEONCIA MACALINTAL FULGENCIO; and;

   EDGARD RODELAS HONTIVEROS, staff assistants of Rempis.

   Investigation bared that on July 6, 2012, a complaint from Christian Salamat and several others was received by the NBI about the illegal recruitment activity of the subject Rempis.

  Complainants said that they paid Rempis the amount of P40,000 each as placement and processing fees for their visas for deployment to New Zealand as fruit pickers, and other jobs.

  Suspect promised the victims they will be deployed within 1 ½ months after paying the processing fees. But after the lapse of two months, victims failed to receive any visa as well as supposedly processed papers by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

  Verification with the POEA shows that Rempis is not licensed and authorized to engage in overseas labor recruitment.

  On July 9, 2012 one of the complainants was scheduled to pay his placement fee. Hence, an entrapment operation was conducted. NBI operatives, together with some complainants, proceeded to the office of suspect. Moments after Rempis received the money from the complainant, NBI operatives approached and arrested her. Her four (4) companions were likewise apprehended. They were brought to the NBI where they are presently detained.

  A case for Syndicated (Large Scale) Illegal Recruitment/Estafa (swindling) had been filed before the Manila City Prosecutors Office against the suspects.