After victimizing at least 200 people, 63-year-old alleged illegal recruiter was caught in a fast food chain last Tuesday.
Osmando Habilag, in CIDG detention garb, is seen at the CIDG Headquarters
Osmando Habilag was identified by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Chief Supt. Roel Obusan through constant trailing. The suspect was nabbed by his own victim through the help of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) last Tuesday, in front of McDonald’s Quiapo branch, around 7 in the evening.
Around 50 complaints was received against Habilag and Alejandro Navarro Jr., his alleged business partner. These complainants are accompanied by Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency Atty. Hans Leo Cacdac and Ople Policy Center Susan “Toots” Ople.
According to the victims, the recruitment of Habilag and Navarro started last December 2015. They were promising work outside the country as butchers and English teachers in countries like Japan, New Zealand and Australia. A processing fee of P40,000 up to P250,000 but despite paying the processing fee, none of them were able to work abroad.
Bantayog Travel and Tours was later found out that it is not authorized to recruit workers and allow them to work abroad. With that, a police operation was launched against Habilag and Navarro. A standing warrant of Arrest for the case of Estafa was available but the raiders came without it.
Habilag was caught yet his accomplice Navarro is still free and a manhunt operation is currently released.
Habilag violated RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act as well the Revised Penal Code Art. 315, also known as Estafa.
