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MANILA, Philippines?The Manila city prosecutor has recommended the filing of charges in court against a New Zealander who allegedly lured several jobseekers to non-existent jobs abroad two years ago.
Prosecutor Jhosep Lopez recommended that respondent Florida Brown, of DSB International Travel Consultant Management Services, be charged with large-scale illegal recruitment and seven counts of estafa (fraud) in the Manila Regional Trial Court.
The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by Ariel Bautista, Amadeo Pama, Howard Hernandez, Rosalie Cortas, June Matibag, Rose Marie Ursua, and Arnel Salvador.
The complainants alleged that sometime between July and August 2007, Brown enticed them with jobs in New Zealand as fruit pickers.
The suspect demanded P125,000 from each of them as processing and placement fees, the complainants said, adding that the suspect received a total of P320,000 from them.
Upon receipt of the money, the suspect promised to send the complainants abroad within two months. However, the promised overseas jobs did not materialize.
Verification made with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) showed that DSB International represented by Brown was not licensed to recruit workers for overseas employment.
According to Lopez, Brown was subpoenaed and directed to submit her counter-affidavit on a scheduled date of hearing but did not do so.
?Clearly, deceit was employed when she (Brown) took their money under the pretext of sending them abroad,? Lopez said.
