Jordanian, wife charged with illegal recruitment

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed large-scale illegal recruitment charges against a Jordanian and his Filipina livein partner and three others for defrauding around 100 persons they promised to deploy for work in Dubai.

NBI spokesman Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin identified the couple as Jordanian Ali Moh Khalil Tarrish and Myrla Olor.

The two were apprehended by the NBI’s International Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last Monday while waiting for a flight for Davao in an attempt to avoid arrest.

Lavin said the arrest was made after one of their cohorts, identified as Conchita Paculba, was nabbed during an entrapment operation.

The NBI is hunting down the suspects’ two other cohorts who were identified as Virginia Adling and Mel Madera.

Lavin said complaints have been filed against the five suspects before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office for large-scale illegal recruitment in violation of the Migrant Filipino Workers Act of 1995 and for estafa under Article 315 par (2) of the Revised Penal Code.

The arrests were made based on the complaints filed before the NBI by around 100 of their victims.

Lavin said suspects were able to take around ₱4 million from the victims, each of whom were asked to pay placement and processing fees ranging from ₱25,000 to ₱32,000.

The victims were promised employment in Dubai as cleaners, waitresses, delivery boys, janitors and drivers.

The suspects have scheduled their departures but failed to do so and only offered flimsy excuses.

The NBI also verified with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) that the suspects are not licensed and authorized to recruit workers.