An alleged illegal recruiter, who reportedly got more than P700,000 from one of her victims, has been arrested during an entrapment operation in Butuan City, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
The NBI identified the suspect as Melight C. Esguerra who was arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by operatives of NBI Caraga Regional Office.
It said that during the entrapment operation, its operatives caught Esguerra “accepting the entrapment money” from the complainant.
“Verification with the Department of Migrant Workers-Regional Office XIII revealed that Subject is not a license or holder of authority to engage in the recruitment of workers for employment abroad,” said the bureau.
After her arrest, Esguerra was presented for inquest before the Butuan City Prosecutor’s Office for illegal recruitment in violation of Republic Act (RA) 8042, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act, as amended.
“The operation stemmed from a complaint filed against the Subject for Illegal Recruitment,” the NBI said.
During the investigation, the bureau said its NBI Caraga learned that “the Complainant was being recruited by the Subject to work in Canada in exchange for a sum of money.”
“The Complainant shelled out P749,500 for the processing fee and preparation of necessary documents,” said the bureau.
“Subject Esguerra asked additional money from the Complainant for the processing and went to Butuan City to personally get the demanded money,” it added.