Italian lawyer disowns recruitment scam agency

An Italian lawyer broke his silence after being referred to as one of the lawyers of Alpha Assistenza SRL, a recruitment agency accused of having duped around 400 Filipinos in Italy and the Philippines of job opportunities in exchange for vast amounts of money.

Atty. Guiseppe Bellanca, whose name and photograph appear on the official website Alpha Assistenza SRL, reached out to DAILY TRIBUNE's digital show Usapang OFW on Tuesday to clear his name, saying he was not in any way connected to the Italy-based immigration consultancy agency run by Filipino co-CEOs Krizelle Respicio and Frederick Dutaro.

Bellanca, a criminal lawyer specializing in road accidents and health malpractice, said Alpha Assistenza used his picture, name, and reputation without his knowledge and consent.

He added that he already filed a criminal case against Respicio and Dutaro in Italy for the unauthorized use of his face, name, and profession and for jeopardizing his credibility.

If found guilty, the duo would face three to six years imprisonment.

"I have filed a formal complaint for the unauthorized use of my picture, name, and profession. I never gave authority to use my name and my face in that website," Bellanca said, speaking partially in English and aided by an interpreter.

Asked if he knew Respicio personally, Bellanca said he only met her once.

"I met her once through another Filipino, and I met with her for exactly 10 minutes. The meeting was a sort of consultation to discuss something about her employee," Bellanca said.

He only discovered the unauthorized use of his name and picture on the Alpha Assistenza website in September when "victims" of the agency's "scam" began calling him.

Usapang OFW broke the story on 21 September. It was followed by a series of exclusives in DAILY TRIBUNE, with several "victims" coming out to share their harrowing experiences in dealing with Alpha.

With rumors circulating among the scam victims that Respicio was in the Philippines, Bellanca said that should she decide to go to Italy, she could be arrested right at the airport as the criminal case he filed automatically suspended her permit to stay in the country.

He encouraged other victims in Italy to file formal complaints.

"I am very angry about this person using my name, my face, and credibility. Other victims should file their own formal complaints," Bellanca said.

Shattered dreams

Meanwhile, the 400 victims dubbed "Alpha 400" aspiring to work in hotels and restaurants in Italy lamented that not only were they duped of their hard-earned money but also the aspirations of their families to have a comfortable life.

This, according to Apple Cabasis, spokesperson of the victims, in an interview at the office of the National Bureau of Investigation-National Capital Region in Manila yesterday.

"We hope to be given justice because what happened was no joke after they ran away not only with our money but our hopes of a better future," Cabasis told the Daily Tribune.

She said many of the victims sold their pigs, cows, and other properties to come up with the money needed to process their travel documents.
"They sold their animals just so they could come up with the needed funds to finance their travel documents," Cabasis added.

Many of those victimized were from Malvar, Balete, and Agoncillo, all in Batangas and Agoncillo, Cavite; Tiaong, Quezon; and some were in France.

"Many victims listened to their relatives who trusted the recruitment agency, only to discover that the Nulla Osta or work permits they were issued were all fake," she said.

The Nulla Osta is a document issued by Italian immigration authorities authorizing a non-European Union national to apply for a work visa at an Italian embassy or consulate, Cabasis and 33 others were at the NBI yesterday, where they were assisted in preparing their affidavits for filing illegal recruitment and syndicated estafa charges against Respicio and Dutaro.

Aside from their affidavits, the victims were told to bring their passports and screenshots of their conversations with the supposed recruiter with whom they transacted on Facebook.

When they discovered that the working permits they received were fake, they demanded that the agency return their money, only to be issued checks with no funds.

They were offered salaries ranging from 800 to 1,000 Euros, which, according to Cabasis, was too good to be true. However, they believed the promise because their relatives in Italy told them that workers were needed in that country.

Cabasis said that even her relatives in Italy did not know the recruitment agency would do such a thing because they knew it was reputable.

She said that among those who were fooled was a family of eight who shelled out P1.8 million.

She said she paid P300,000 for the processing of her documents.

A few days ago, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla assured Alpha 400 of the department's help.

"Affidavits will be taken so they can properly complain and put together a case. Whatever it is, we will help them draw out the truth," said Remulla, adding that he has assigned Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan "to come up with a few draft affidavits so we can assist these people."
and Alvin Murcia