Authorities have dismantled a syndicate that lured Filipino tourists to Singapore following the arrest of a travel agent and 16 of his employees.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group presented yesterday in Camp Crame Luciano Lim, owner of Excellent Travel Agency at 1523-1525 M. H. del Pilar, Ermita, Manila; and his employees Jaime Alaoria, Fresa Robles, Laudemer Tovillo, Crytel Alejandro, Arceli Palolan, Analou Gigante, Marilene De Lar, Ria Ritzthamine Evangelista, Eloisa Pacheco, Ronaldo Linsad, Aries Oliveros, Flordeliza Herpacio, Dennis Perez, Diane Cortes, Ernesto Ramos and Cristina Mercado.
In his report to National Police Chief Avelino Razon Jr., Chief Supt. Raul Castaneda, CIDG chief, said the arrest came after Vice President Noli de Castro endorsed the victims' complaint that they were promised jobs in Singapore as maids.
Razon ordered the group to push for more arrests because there appeared to be connivance among the travel and recruiting agencies both in Manila and in Singapore.
There were also reports that some of the victims were sexually violated by their employers while others were homeless for duration of their 14-day stay.
Senior Supt. Gilbert Sosa, chief of the Anti-Transnational Crime Division, said the group was eyeing about 30 other travel agencies engaged in human trafficking, a non-bailable offense and punishable by life imprisonment under Republic Act 9208, or the Anti-Human Trafficking of Persons Act of 2003.
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