NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents have arrested a self-proclaimed bishop and his wife and padlocked a religious sect’s church in Baras, Rizal which was allegedly being used by the couple as a front for illegal job recruitment.
The suspects were identified as Reynaldo Basalio, the ostensibly the leader of the Faithful Promise Foundation Philippines Inc., and his wife, Esclarmonde.
The raid was conducted following complaints of illegal recruitment by job-seekers who were purportedly promised jobs as factory workers, tea pickers, clerks, accountants, mechanical engineers, and construction workers in Japan, South Korea, and Papua New Guinea with salaries ranging from P36,000 to P120,000.
Under the guise of missionary work, the victims were issued tourist visas and instructed to tell Immigration they were missionaries. However, some victims were offloaded, others were deployed, while many more were still awaiting deployment.
The unfortunate job-seekers claimed they were charged at least P50,000 each as fees for processing of their employment and travel documents.
The Department of Migrant Workers said the Basalio couple faces charges of large-scale illegal recruitment, a non-bailable offense under Republic Act 8042, also known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act, as amended by RA 10022.
The DMW reiterates its warning to the public against unlicensed recruiters and advises job seekers to always verify agencies through the DMW official website at dmw.gov.ph
