Two suspected illegal recruiters have been arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) while trying to escort four Filipinos on their flight to Singapore, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Friday, March 14.
The NBI identified the suspects as Anamae Cristina Ynot Liga and Danica Ann Alejo Bernardo who were arrested at the NAIA Terminal 1 last March 5.
“Verification with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed that Liga and Bernardo are neither licensed nor authorized to recruit workers for overseas employment,” it said.
Following their arrest, the NBI filed criminal charges against them for violations of Republic Act (RA) 8042, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended, and RA 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
The NBI said the six passengers, including the recruiters, claimed they were on their way to Singapore for a company incentive tour.
However, it said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) denied the departure of the group after “the four passengers revealed that the true purpose of their travel was to seek employment as performers.”
“They also indicated that their companions, subjects Liga and Bernado, were acting as their escorts,” it also said.
It added that further investigation showed that “the four passengers were previously Overseas Filipino Workers who had worked as performing artists in Singapore, Japan, and Dubai.”