Illegal recruiter nabbed in Pasay

Authorities on Thursday night nabbed an alleged illegal recruiter targeting returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-HTD) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

The suspect, identified as Gie Celeros Viterbo also known as “Ghie” was arrested inside a condominium in Pasay for offering jobs to OFWs using falsified documents.

The arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by a domestic worker who returned from Saudi Arabia last August. “Ghie” allegedly promised to send her to Dubai as a domestic worker with a salary of USD 400. She reused the old contract of the victim to buy a ticket connecting through Hong Kong and Doha.

The documents of the OFW were discovered to be fake upon screening by the Bureau of Immigration. Further investigation revealed that “Ghie” was also continuously recruiting her for another overseas job in Lebanon with a higher salary of USD 450.

Upon the arrest, another victim was found being recruited for a job in Dubai. The suspect is now in the custody of NBI for the processing ahead of inquest proceedings and faces charges of simple illegal recruitment and acts promoting trafficking in persons.