The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed criminal cases against three foreigners and their alleged local cohort for the alleged illegal recruitment of Filipinos who were falsely promised to work as restaurant staff in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

The cases were filed last June 5 before the Tanauan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) against Filipino Jayson Panginen Andasan and foreigners Adel En Nouri, Mohammed En Nouri, and Yuness En Nouri.

The four were accused of illegal recruitment committed by a syndicate under Section 7(B) of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 and estafa under Article 312(2)(a) of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

The Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) of Sto. Tomas City, Batangas filed the cases after conducting the preliminary investigation of the complaints of their two alleged Filipino victims.

“After a careful evaluation of the uncontroverted evidence submitted by the complainant, this Office finds and so holds the existence of prima facie evidence to warrant the indictment of respondents Jayson Panginen Andasan, Adel En Nouri, Mohammed En Nouri, and Yuness En Nouri for Illegal Recruitment Committed by a Syndicate and Estafa under Article 315(a) of the Revised Penal Code,” reads the resolution dated June 1 signed by Deputy City Prosecutor Geronimo C. Gonzales and approved by City Prosecutor Jonathan M. Aldovino.

According to the complainants, they went to the office of Razon Manpower International in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas on March 21 last year following a referral to inquire about a job abroad.

During the visit, the prosecutor said the Filipino staff “presented them (complainants), thru online conference Adel En Nouri, Mohammed En Nouri, and Yuness En Nouri, who represented themselves as the foreign employers and owners of the business abroad.”

The prosecutor said days later “they (complainants) were offered overseas employment opportunities as restaurant staff in Dubai with an assured salary of Php80,000.00 to Php100,000.00 per month.”

The complainants were also told that they will be provided with free housing and food allowance in Dubai.

After being convinced to accept the offer, the prosecutor said “each of them paid the placement fee of P100,000.00 and their payment was received by respondent Jayson Panginen Andasan.”

“However, contrary to their promises and assurance, after the respondents had received their money and documentary requirements, the respondents became evasive and not anymore answering their call,” the complaint read.

“Their personal investigation revealed that neither the respondents nor the company Razon Manpower Internationals was registered nor the company Razon Manpower Internationals was registered nor authorized to recruit migrant workers for overseas employment," the complaint read.

"This discovery confirmed that the promises of Respondents were all false and that they had no real capacity to deliver what they offered,” it added.

However, the prosecutor dismissed the complaint against 10 other respondents working at the recruitment agency due to insufficiency of evidence.