BY JEN BAYLON
CAPIZ – A retired teacher in Pilar, Capiz, accused of being an alleged job scammer, has denied claims of soliciting money from individuals in exchange for a promise of overseas employment.
The 67-year-old Marissa Basinang opted to address the issue through her attorney as she found herself at the center of fraud allegations.
Basinang stands firm in denying the accusations, asserting that she never sought any monetary compensation or promised the job applicants employment in Australia.
This comes after multiple complainants have come forward, alleging that they fell victim to a fraudulent scheme perpetrated by Basinang.
According to these individuals, through a radio interview, they engaged with the retired teacher between February and September 2023 and were convinced to pay substantial sums of more or less P10,000, under the belief that they were securing job prospects.
The complainants have claimed that Basinang justified the payments as necessary for processing documents and covering fees for the services of a certain Legacy Agency, which they learned does not exist.
Furthermore, the complainants claimed that Basinang had been using various surnames, such as Cowan and Baker, when accepting payment, stirring suspicions that her Australian husband and their children were also complicit.
Basinang’s purported recruitment activity reached individuals from various regions who were approached while undergoing TESDA training in Manila.
As the allegations swirl, Basinang has maintained her stance of innocence and has entrusted her legal representation to address the matter./PN
