By The SUN
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| Ester Ylagan in better times. |
Police investigating the alleged job scam of hundreds of Filipinos by recruiter Ester Ylagan and her companies Emry’s Staff Services Agency and Mike’s Secretarial Services are asking for the applicants who documented the transactions on video to step forward.
Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre disclosed this as he and Consul Paul Saret of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section prepare to meet with the police to check on the progress of the probe.
Labatt Dela Torre said the investigators need the names of those who took the video recordings so they can be submitted to the Justice Department as additional evidence.
The footages, at least two of which were shared with The SUN, were taken discreetly by complainants with their cell phones as they made payments to Ylagan at her former office at World Wide Plaza in Central.
The Police Regional Anti-Crime Unit is investigating Ylagan, 66, and suspended barrister Ody Lai Pui-yim, 56, for suspected fraud and money laundering in connection with the alleged scam.
About 200 applicants, mostly Hong Kong-based domestic workers, filed complaints against Ylagan for charging them placement fees of $10,000 for a wide range of non-existent jobs in Britain, and $15,000 for positions in Canada.
About 300 more victims of the apparently recruitment scam have either chosen not to pursue their claims while others have found new jobs overseas or gone home after losing their jobs here.
The complaints led to further investigations into the suspected scam by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Consulate’s ATN sections, and in turn, resulted in the arrest of Ylagan and Lai, who are both out on police bail.
Both suspects have been told to report back to police at regular intervals while the investigation into the case continues.
Many of the complainants have submitted evidence to support their claims to Mission for Migrant Workers director Edwina Antonio who is representing them in court. She is also expected to supply the names of those who took the videos to investigators.
The next hearing of the claims will be held at the District Court sometime next month, following a postponement on Oct 26.
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