Four foreigners and their alleged Filipino accomplices have been charged with large-scale illegal recruitment and estafa before the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) national prosecution service in Tagaytay City.

The two complainants alleged that despite the payment of P200,000 placement fees for visa and other documents, the “assured” overseas employment “did not materialize.”

Later, they said, they found out that the recruitment firm – Tamber International Placement Agency – was not a licensed overseas job recruiter by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

Based on the investigation data form signed by Associate City Prosecutor Reiner B. Desacada and dated Feb. 27, 2026, named respondents in the complaint were foreigners Adel En Nouri, Narwani Ricky Ravin, Prerna Giani, and Nisha Deepak Khemlani.

The Filipinos charged were named in the form as Clarence Co Quilop, Brian James de Jesus So, Michelangelo Tang Co, Jacqueline V. Sio, and Krizzia ann Geronda Loyang.

They were charged before the prosecutor’s office with illegal recruitment (large scale) under Republic Act No. 8042 as amended by RA 10022 and estafa under Articles 315 to 318 of the Revised Penal Code.

The complainants – event coordinators Sherly C. Lopez and John Michael F. Umali – said that the respondents represented themselves as personnel of Tamber International Placement Agency.

In their joint complaint-affidavit, which was attached to the investigation data form, Lopez and Umali alleged that they met the Filipino respondents in one of their events in Tagaytay City in December 2024.

The complainants said that Quilop and her group introduced themselves as representatives of Tamber International and offered them employment in Singapore with a monthly salary of 2,000 SGDs, or about P90,000.

After paying a total of P200,000 placement fees to Tamber International on Dec. 12, 2024 for the “fast and guaranteed” overseas job, the complainants were instructed to go to Tagaytay City on Dec. 14, 2024 to undergo online orientation with foreign employers.

During their stay in Tagaytay City, the complainants alleged that their cellphones were taken and “we were prohibited from leaving the premises until we finish the 5-day orientation due to the alleged busy schedule of the foreign employer.”

They also alleged that they talked to the foreign employers several times through video calls and, during which, the foreign employers “pressured us to sign blank employment forms, which we refused due to fear and suspicion.”

They recounted that “we were required to write down personal information about our families, including their names and addresses, causing us fear that harm might come to them should we refuse to comply.”

The complainants said they became suspicious that their overseas employment was fraudulent when they overheard the respondents discussing the cancellation of the job offer.

The complainants said “due to prolonged restraint, intimidation, threats, and psychological pressure, we suffered fear, anxiety, and emotional distress.”

They said that on Dec. 20, 2024 “we seized the opportunity to escape and immediately sought assistance.”

They also said they checked with the DMW the records of Tamber International Placement Agency.

In their affidavits, the complainants attached a certification issued by the DMW which states: “This is to certify that based on available records of this Bureau, Tamber International Placement Agency is not licensed/authorized by this Department to recruit workers for overseas employment.”

The certification, which was issued on Feb. 14, 2025, was signed by lawyer Liza C. Alcera, officer-in-charge director IV of the Licensing and Regulations Bureau of DMW.

With the certification, Lopez and Umali said they decided to file criminal charges before the Tagaytay City prosecutor’s office.

It was not known as of posting time, if the prosecutor’s office has evaluated the complaint. After evaluation, the prosecutors would decide whether to dismiss the charges or proceed with the preliminary investigation of the complaint.