Woman charged for duping 3 with bogus jobs

The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor has indicted a woman who allegedly duped three job applicants into non-existent employment in Singapore.

Prosecutor Ma. Liza Jorda found evidence to charge Merdel Mapula-Melencion with violation of Republic Act 10022 or the Amended Migrant Workers Act.

Melencion, of Barangay Sambag, Cebu City, demanded money from the job applicants in exchange for jobs as pub attendants in Singapore, without a license from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

Illegal recruitment in large scale is a non-bailable offense.

Pauline Dael-Silva, 33, of Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, said that Melencion enticed her to work as a pub house attendant in Singapore and promised her a weekly salary of P20,000 per week for six months.

“I trusted and believed Melencion’s declaration and promises as she boasted that her employer in Singapore would accept me once payments will be made to her,” said Silva.

However, Silva said she was unable to fly for Singapore despite having paid about P49,700 to Melencion.

Silva kept on following up with Melencion about her deployment to Singapore, but was told “better luck next time.”

Since the accused ignored her plea, Silva asked for help from the police, who carried out the entrapment of Melencion.

A certification from the POEA also showed that Melencion is not licensed to recruit job applicants.

The two other job applicants – Mary Ann Concepcion and Rosse Ann Navarro – also executed their affidavits corroborating Silva’s allegations against Melencion./