MikeLigalig.com

By Ven Arigo
Bohol Chronicle

Nacionalista Party (NP) gubernatorial bet Vice Gov. Julius Herrera has been involved in a questionable large-scale recruitment of overseas job seekers who have ended up victims.

The victims, including many Boholanos, lost their hard-earned---even borrowed money---to false hope of finding highly-paid works abroad and free their families back home from the fangs of poverty.

The "OFW Desk" inside the office of Herrera at the provincial capitol which would supposedly handle the concerns of overseas workers has instead been used to process the victims' applications.

In other words, the desk has been anomalously used to front a private recruitment business, even using a government-paid employee.

There is now a mounting clamor for Herrera and his wife, Linda, a labor attaché based in the US, to resign from their respective government posts if complaints against the illegal recruitment are true. They are cited for conflict of interest.

The complainants identified a certain Marcus Julius Herrera as the "international marketer" of the agency, the 3 Js Global Recruitment Agency, Incorporated. The "Js" is believed to stand for Julius the father and Julius the son.

Herrera's wife met with the complainants at Garden Café on Friday for a settlement that could silence them. They will reportedly meet at POEA in Cebu City on Tuesday for initial half refund.
         

In their signed complaint to Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Regional Dir. Evelia Durato, the victims recalled that the agency tied up with the Bohol Employment and Placement Office (BEPO) at capitol in September 2008. They were among those accepted for foreign jobs.

They underwent medical check-ups in Cebu City and were later made by the agency to deposit $450 each. The amount was equivalent to already P21,000 at that time. They spent additional money for their check-up and days of stay in Cebu.

The money was deposited to the Banco de Oro account, which bears the number 3250082826, of a certain Corazon Abarquez, said to be the "president" of the Herrera agency. Their fees were received by a certain Cheryl Lituanas, said to be an agency cashier.

The agency allegedly collected some P5 million from over 200 applicants, who included those from other provinces, according some accounts.

Nearly two years after their applications were assured the job seekers have not gone abroad. They said their other fellow applicants also now want their money back from the agency.

The victims were identified in their complaint as Maricel Cajelo, Nestora Rebusa, Carlos Gardosi, Maria Liezel Ingles and Maria Susan Yap, all applying for caregivers; Roberto Cister and Pableo Dabalos, garbage collectors; and Joseph Palingcod and Carlito Hibaya, construction workers. Some victims have been employed by Herrera as casual workers of the province.

The agency reportedly holds office at Room 201, Lee Business Corner, on Juan Luna corner Juan Dela Cruz Streets in Davao City, Davao del Sur.

The victims learned that the recruitment agency was delisted from POEA last March.

MARCUS JULIUS

The victims were surprised to know that Herrera's son Marcus Julius met them during their job interview. Herrera calling cards were given to them. The young Herrera also met them at Metro center here in July 2009.

He gave to the applicants his address at #56 Hernandez St., Pasay City, Philippines and e-mail address at [email protected].

One victim claimed that the vice governor himself appeared in a gathering of the applicants at the Governor's Mansion. The job seekers submitted their papers to the vice governor's office. A female government employee handled their papers. An applicant identified her as a certain Sharon.

ALIBI

When they inquired why they failed to fly abroad for work, the agency cited the "global recession" affecting the US economy as the cause.

The agency then promised to meet them in Bohol last January but none occurred until they learned from the POEA that the agency had been "closed." The agency's license had reportedly expired and, thus, its delisting.

"GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK"

The victims appealed to Herrera to give their money back since they are convinced that the vice governor is himself involved in the recruitment agency.

Some applicants borrowed from lenders, including the "5/6" loan sharks, while others were reported to have pawned their family rice lands.

They were not informed by the agency either by text messages about the status of their applications and of the agency itself.

They had submitted their Banco de Oro deposit receipts to the vice governor's office, where they were also made to sign a memorandum of agreement.

Illegal massive recruitment is a heinous crime and a capital offense. No bail is recommended if evidences of guilt could prove to be strong.(Ven rebo Arigo)

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On one hand, there is a massive recession in the US and thousands have lost their jobs.

It seems to get better but every time you open the news, there are companies closing their doors. Here in my community alone, I've seen quite a few jobs that have closed their doors signalling the end of maybe 10-15 jobs.

Non-medical caregivers is a good alternative to medical caregivers as they are not as expensive, but with the recession, the employers here might be more conservative with their expenses, the clients probably cut their hours and it follows that the employers waiting for these people will have to delay importing them, afterall, the employers here pay the ticket, board and lodging and about $3,000 of immigration expenses.

But since this is a politician that's involved...hmmmmm.....there might be something more to it than just the recession.

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