By John Genesis A. Damgo
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday announced it had filed charges against eight individuals for Large Scale Illegal Recruitment and Estafa.
Director Jaime B. Santiago (Ret.) identified those charged as Miriam Perez Pineda Jeong, Paulo Valmonte, Emelita Vinuya Pineda, Angelito “Jeff” Sagun, Mark Joey Pineda, Pablo Pineda, Pablo Pineda Jr., and Marilyn Pineda
Based on the sworn statements of the complainants and the investigation conducted by the NBI-OTCD, suspects Jeong, Valmonte and Mark Joseph Pineda offered them overseas employment in South Korea, promising them monthly salary ranging from P80,000 to P84,000, with free accommodation and overtime pay, in exchange for a fee.
Santiago explained that Subjects Jeong, Emelita Pineda, and Sagun collected cash payments from the complainants for the necessary placement/processing fees and other miscellaneous fees, including grease money.
The suspects also allegedly required the complainants to submit original and photocopies of relevant documents necessary to process their overseas employment. The complainants further alleged that Marilyn, Pablo, and Pablo Jr. also participated in the facilitation of the meetings set by Miriam to discuss recruitment matters with them.
However, to date, none of the complainants have been deployed for overseas employment as promised by the suspects. Moreover, neither received refunds for the payments they made to the suspects.
Santiago added that certification issued by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) disclosed that above-mentioned suspects are not licensed nor authorized by the DMW to recruit workers for overseas employment.
OTCD notified the suspects through subpoenas, to give them opportunity to refute the allegations against them. However, to this date, no one among the suspects have failed to submit any opposing evidence to challenge the assertions of the complainants.
As such, with the guidance of Director Santiago, the NBI-OTCD recommended that cases for Large Scale Illegal Recruitment under RA No. 8042 (Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995) as amended by RA No. 10022, and Estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code be filed against the Subjects. The case was transmitted for preliminary investigation on June 8, 2024 before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
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