Italian prosecutors set to investigate Filipino-owned immigration firm in Milan

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Italian prosecutors are set to start their investigation into the Filipino-owned immigration consultancy firm based in Milan, Consul General Elmer Cato said on Tuesday.

According to Cato, the consultancy firm Alpha Assistenza SRL allegedly defrauded close to 300 jobseekers in the Philippines.

“The case against Alpha Assistenza stems from allegations that it collected huge amounts of money from relatives and associates in Italy of at least 278 Filipinos in the Philippines but failed to deliver the promised jobs under the decreto flussi program,” he said in a statement.

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The decreto flussi program allows non-European Union foreigners, in this case Filipinos, to work and reside in Italy temporarily.

“The Consulate, through its lawyer Bruno De Blasi, conveyed to the Office of the Public Prosecutor today that it could proceed with its formal investigation with the filing of 92 out of 102 complaints against the owners of Alpha Assistenza SRL,” Cato added.

Ten more complaints will be filed against the owners of the consultancy firm once the complainants submit the required documents, he continued.

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The investigation comes more than a month after Attorney De Blasi filed the first 11 complaints against firm owners Diane Krizelle Respicio and Frederick Dutaro.

Cato explained that the probe on the two Filipinos may take at least six months.