Pasay city: An entrapment operation led by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) resulted in the arrest of a suspected illegal recruiter, her Russian fianc©, and two bodyguards in Pasay City on Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DMW reported that the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Anti-Transnational Crime Unit (PNP CIDG-ATCU) and the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit conducted the joint operation, leading to the arrest of the suspect, identified as Celesti Maxilum.
'Nag-ugat ang kanilang pag-aresto sa report ng isang biktima na aniya ay pinangakuan ni Maxilum ng trabaho bilang production worker sa bansang New Zealand at Japan sa loob ng tatlong taong kontrata kapalit umano ng sahod na halagang PHP100,000 (Their arrest stemmed from a report by a victim who claimed that Maxilum promised a production worker job in New Zealand and Japan under a three-year contract in exchange for a salary of PHP100,000),' the DMW said.
The DMW further stated that Maxilum allegedly collected processing fees ranging from PHP30,000 to PHP72,500 from applicants in exchange for the supposed overseas employment.
Investigators have noted that more than 10 additional complaints have been filed against the suspect for illegal recruitment activities. The DMW indicated that formal charges for illegal recruitment are being prepared against the arrested individuals.
