MpD summons 2 cops who let ‘illegal recruiter’ escape
The Manila Police District (MPD) has summoned two policemen who allegedly allowed a suspected illegal recruiter to escape Thursday night.
Chief Inspector Joey de Ocampo, MPD general assignment and investigation chief, called Police Officer 3 Danilo Flores and PO1 Benjamin Flaviano to explain after more than 50 of Teresita Hassan’s alleged victims went to his office to complain that the two lawmen allowed Hassan to leave when they brought her to the Ospital ng Maynila for medical examination following her arrest.
The incident stemmed from a case filed two weeks ago against Hassan, operator of the Japcom Consultancy and Manpower Recruitment Agency, for promising them non-existent jobs in Japan.
Hassan, Cynthia Banares and Lauro Manantan, all officials with the same company, were charged with estafa and large-scale illegal recruitment.
Last Jan. 10, some complainants hauled Banares to the MPD after encountering her at a shopping mall in Manila.
The complainants told The STAR that the suspects recruited them last year, promising to send them to Japan to work as factory workers with a salary of P70,000.
They said the suspects asked them to shell out P35,000 for Japanese language proficiency training, P7,000 for books and accommodation fee, P5,000 for medical examination fee and other miscellaneous expenses.
At around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, the complainants chanced upon Hassan at a spa in Malate and immediately contacted the police.
Flores and Flaviano arrived and brought the suspect to the hospital for medical examination before turning her over to the MPD headquarters.
However, more than 20 complainants rushed to the hospital after learning Hassan was there.
Hassan and her companion escaped during the commotion.
Superintendent Emery Abating, MPD Station 5 commander, said he relieved the policemen while an investigation is being conducted.
De Ocampo said they will hear both sides and decide whether there is probable cause to charge Flores and Flaviano.