US visa syndicate busted

MANILA, Philippines—A syndicate that allegedly provided US visa applicants with fraudulent documents—bank books and certifications, tax declarations, among others— to facilitate their application in exchange for huge sums of money has been was busted in a sting operation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police.

CIDG operatives raided the office in Manila of the United Star Alliance Consultancy and Immigration Service (USA-CIS), arrested 20 workers and confiscated computers and documents at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, officials said.

CIDG Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said the raid was conducted by members of the CIDG’s Anti-Transnational and Cyber Crime Division at room 803 on the 8th floor of the Pearl of the Orient Building at 1240 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita.

Arrested were Anna Liza Samson, general manager, and employees Reynaldo Villanueva, Cris Llewellyn Gacayan, Aldrin P. Guevarra Jr., Ronaldo B Geronimo, Leilanie G. Rafael, Rose Ann Bautista, Florinda M. Jana, Maria Cristina G. Cruz, Maria Cristina L. Reyes, Melanie Domingo, Reina Angeline R. Geronimo, Rosalinda S. Kalinga, Niccalyn R. Robles, Maria Elena DC Gaddi, Juddie M. Osorio, Nannete F. Benedicto and Manuel Inocencio.

The police also confiscated 22 computers and as assorted documents allegedly used by the group for their illegal recruitment activities, and assorted passports of applicants for visa processing.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa  said the raid stemmed from a complaint by the US Embassy.

Embassy officials told investigators that the Manila-based immigration consultancy office had been providing US visa applicants with fake documents such as bank books, bank certifications, deeds of sale of real properties, tax documents and business registration certificates.

Investigation showed that USA-CIS was also recruiting Filipino visa applicants for care-giving jobs in unknown care homes in the United States.

The syndicate charged their clients from P50,000 to P100,000 as initial payment for “orientation, coaching and forged documents” and additional P85,000 to P100,000 for “success fee” once their clients got their visas.

It was also learned that USA-CIS had been engaging in visa fraud and illegal recruitment since 2006 using several company names, the CIDG said.

Under its present name, US Embassy officials said they recorded more than 190 visa applicants who had been duped by the syndicate.

In response to the request of the US Embassy, the police secured two search warrants and planned the Feb. 1 entrapment operation against one of the suspects, Inocencio, 47, of the company’s accounting staff.

The CIDG will charge the suspects with non-bailable cases of large-scale and syndicated illegal recruitment, large-scale and syndicated estafa and numerous counts of fraud.

Pagdilao said the operation should serve as a stern warning to Filipinos seeking jobs and travel in the US to be more circumspect in choosing immigration consultancy firms so as not to fall prey to unscrupulous groups.

He added that aspiring migrant workers should also think of the consequences that would befall them once they are caught carrying fraudulent and counterfeit documents abroad.