ILOILO City – A teacher suspected of illegally recruiting workers to South Korea was entrapped by the police in Barangay Tabuc Suba, La Paz district.
The 21-year-old Melizza Dela Cruz of Bocaue, Bulacan taught at Gidae, a Korean school Barangay Tabuc Suba. She was arrested around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The La Paz police station planned an entrapment following the complaint of Kevin Castro, 26, of Barangay Malitbog Centro, Calinog, Iloilo and Ryan Anthony Leada, 38, of Barangay Dungon C, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
“The complainants claimed they already paid but were yet to leave for South Korea. They became suspicious,” according to Senior Police Officer 3 Jerwin Servano, La Paz police investigator.
Dela Cruz was suspected of recruiting via Facebook people to work to South Korea and charging applicants P8,000 each for two weeks of training, and P10,000 more for a plane ticket.
The La Paz police learned that on Oct. 12 several persons sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation regarding Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz, on the other hand, denied she was an illegal recruiter.
She said the papers of the complaints were with a certain “Mr. Lee” for endorsement to South Korea.
Servano said Dela Cruz had no record with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
Dela Cruz was detained at the La Paz police station. She faces two charges – illegal recruitment and estafa, according to Servano./PN
