The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has started its probe of a recruitment agency which reportedly issued “fake results” of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests to four Filipinas who were arrested last July at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
In a statement issued on Thursday, Aug. 12, the NBI identified the recruitment firm as Sure Jobs International Manpower Agency Co.
The NBI said “Miriam Abas and Sure Jobs International Manpower Agency Co. will be subject of further investigation by the NBI for possible involvement and filing of appropriate criminal charges.”
It said it had filed charges of violations of the Revised Penal Code for falsification of documents against the four Filipinas it identified as Ruby Ann Frivaldo, Helen Huona, Zusette Magabanua, and Helen Panen.
It said the four Filipinas were intercepted at the airport by immigration officers before they could board their flight and were then taken to the NBI’s International Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID).
“The subjects declared to be travelling as OFW (overseas Filipino workers) with final destination to Albania but they could not answer questions pertaining to their declared work in Albania,” the NBI said.
“They later admitted that they intend to work in Dubai, UAE (United Arab Emirates) as domestic workers,” it said.
The NBI also said that the four women “admitted that the COVID-19 Test results issued by El Roi Medical Clinic and Diagnostic Center (El Roi) they presented before the Immigration Officers as one of those documents they received from Ms. Abas, but admitted that they have not undergone COVID-19 Test.”
It said that after verification with El Roi Medical Clinic, it found that the clinic “did not issue any COVID-19 Test result to the four arrested subjects.”