MikeLigalig.com

By Kit Bagaipo
Bohol Chronicle

An alleged "illegal recruiter" who is facing charges filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for victimizing overseas bound Boholanos said she is just an agent for tours to Dubai.

Erlinda Jamaldin, together with business associate Eduardina Estrella, was slapped with large-scale illegal recruitment and estafa at the Office of the City Prosecutor after three of their purported victims complained to the NBI.

Jamaldin however told the Chronicle she is filing counter complaints against the three complainants Joseph Joy Evangelista, Arnold Soliva and Alejandro Arena.

According to Jamaldin, she is operating a travel consultancy company here in the city to help Boholanos go to Dubai as tourists.

Contrary to the allegations made by complainants, Jamaldin said, she never gave assurance for them to get jobs in Dubai.

She admitted having collected about P70,000 each from the complainants for the processing of their visa, airplane tickets and accommodation upon reaching the foreign country.
         

The NBI complaint, based on affidavits of the three alleged victims, said the suspects defrauded at least 6 Boholanos by promising them of non-existent jobs in Dubai.

Dubai is currently one of the favorite destinations of local job seekers. In order to gain an easy access abroad, many of whom pass as tourists and hunt for employment in Dubai.

Jamaldin said she explained to the complainants that she could only process for their papers going out of the country but never told them of job placements.

She also denied misleading the complainants into believing that her agency is a job recruitment firm for overseas placements.

Evangelista, Soliva and Arena accused Jamaldin that the latter posted a banner outside her firm's office of job opportunities abroad.

They were purportedly told that Jamaldin's business associate in Dubai will process their working permits and that there are indeed job openings in the said country.

However, when they reached the country, they were never able to work legally and Jamaldin's partner Estrella did not process their working visas.

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