Senator Raffy Tulfo yesterday joined Senator Risa Hontiveros in calling for a congressional investigation into the "Italian job" scam complaints against Alpha Assistenza SRL co-CEOs Krizelle Respicio and Frederick Dutaro.

In filing Senate Resolution 816, Tulfo noted reports that "hundreds of victims were charged exorbitant placement and consultancy fees for jobs in Italy that turned out to be non-existent."

Tulfo noted complaints that Alpha Assistenza charged the victims consultancy fees ranging from 2,500 to 5,780 euros (roughly P120,000 to P347,140).

The Italian Embassy in Manila, this week, confirmed to DAILY TRIBUNE that the nulla osta or work permits provided by Alpha Assistenza to the job seekers were bogus. It slammed the "predatory" inclinations of Alpha's owners and officers.

A staffer of Hontiveros went to this paper's office on Wednesday to take the complainants' statements. Hontiveros last week filed a resolution to investigate Alpha Assistenza when Congress resumes its session in November.

Tulfo took note of the initial wave of 68 complainants, whom this paper's digital show Usapang OFW aided in going before the Department of Migrant Workers, the Department of Justice, and the National Bureau of Investigation to file their complaints.

In reaction to the complaints, the Department of Foreign Affairs sent a team to Milan on a fact-finding mission, but TRIBUNE sources said the team has yet to talk to the complainants.

"Alpha Assistenza SRL had no legal personality whatsoever to process the work visa applications of Filipinos seeking jobs in Italy," Tulfo said, echoing a similar statement by the Italian Embassy.

'Return our money'

Hontiveros, on the other hand, said the "State is mandated by the Constitution to afford full protection to laborers, both local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and to promote full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all."

Usapang OFW broke the story in a 21 September episode, with complainants appearing in subsequent shows to ask Respicio, who claimed to have very close ties with Philippine Consul General to Milan Elmer Cato, to return their money.

Cato was accused by the job seekers' Filipino sponsors in Italy of sitting on their complaints because of his perceived closeness to Respicio. He has denied this.

Last week, Jeffrey Villalon, the marketing manager and creator of Alpha Assistenza's website, revealed that Alpha sponsored the consulate's Independence Day celebration last 18 June, reportedly paying 26,000 euros (P1,550,938) for the video wall used during the event.

Italy case filed

Videos and photos of Respicio and Dutaro with Cato have also surfaced, including a picture showing Respicio embracing the consul general.

The victims' allegations of supposed "non-action" by the Philippine consulate in Milan over their concerns "should also be investigated," Tulfo said.

Respicio was set to appear on Usapang OFW on 5 October, but she backed out, saying she'd rather bring the matter before the proper legal forum. However, she granted interviews to other media outfits.

Earlier, Alpha Assistenza issued a statement on its official social media account, claiming that DAILY TRIBUNE never contacted Respicio to get her side.

Respicio's claim was untrue, as the paper has all of its communications with her on record, including her reply to a WhatsApp query from Usapang OFW host Allan Hernandez. She blocked Hernandez on WhatsApp after he introduced himself as a staffer of TRIBUNE.

On 3 October, Italian lawyer Guiseppe Bellanca appeared on Usapang OFW to deny any involvement with Alpha Assistenza, saying he had filed a criminal case against Respicio and Dutaro in Italy for the unauthorized use of his face, name, and profession on its website.   With ALLAN HERNANDEZ