The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday filed charges against four individuals who allegedly recruited 480 Bataan residents to become members of the PCG Auxiliary (PCGA), the civilian volunteer arm of the agency.
PCG Bataan Station Commander Jonathan Serote accompanied by some 50 victims filed the complaint at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against Renante Nase, Reniel Nase, Julius Valerio, and Henric David belonging to a group 101st Balangay PCGA Inc.
The PCG Bataan Station commander said they charged the respondents of cases of estafa, usurpation of authority, and unlawful use of logos and insignias.
Serote said the group 101st Balangay PCGA Incorporated with an address in Quezon City is not authorized by the PCG to recruit for the PCG Auxiliary.
“The PCG filed the complaint so as to prevent this kind of scheme of unscrupulous individuals using the name of the agency to victimize,” he said.
Serote said the “recruits” were promised to receive benefits from cooperatives to be formed and other sources.”
He added each of them shelled out at least P18,000 for transportation and food allowance, uniforms, and other expenses for months of training.
Antonio Allecera and Melchor Castilar, jobless from Mariveles town, who both appeared during the filing of cases, said they were among the first batch who were recruited in August last year.
They had undergone training in formation, drills, and water rescue in Morong. Allecera said they later found out the recruitment was a scam.