DMW endorses illegal recruitment complaints against Mabatid

Vice Consul Gino Soriano administers oath to the HK complainants 

Twelve Filipino domestic workers from Hong Kong claiming to have been victimized by Cebu-based businesswoman Prisca Nina Mabatid and her visa consultancy firm took their oath before Vice Consul George Mariano Soriano at the Consulate last Sunday, June 23, ahead of the expected  filing of their complaint with the Department of Justice in the Philippines.

The 12 are among more than 20 overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong who sought the help of the Mission for Migrant Workers after they were allegedly duped into paying P132,000 each in February 2023 on the pretext that they would be helped to get into Canada to work while on student visas.

Apart from Mabatid, named respondents in their complaint were lawyer Russ Mark Gamallo, her alleged partner in the PCVC/Opportunities Abroad visa consultancy firm, and OFW blogger Bryan Calagui.

TAWAG NA!

The complainants have submitted sworn statements and various evidence including videos and photos taken during the alleged recruitment drive to the Department of Migrant Workers, which previously sent a team of investigators to Hong Kong to look into their complaints.

With help from the Mission, the complainants have also filed complaints with the Hong Kong Police and the Immigration Department. Consulate officials recently informed the group that their case has already been endorsed by the police to the Department of Justice for the possible filing of charges.

The video-recorded oath-taking was carried out at the request of Migrante International in the Philippines, which is assisting a number of complainants against Mabatid and several other people who allegedly collected no less than P100,000 from each of them, in exchange for the false promise of securing them student visas in Canada.

Mabatid's flyer for her Feb 19, 2023 'orientation' in Hong Kong

One of the cases handled by Migrante involves three complainants, one of whom claims to have been recruited in Oman. Their case has been taken up by the DMW and filed directly with the City Prosecutor’s Office in Cabuyao, Laguna.

Named respondents in their complaint apart from Mabatid were Adam Hechanova, Ma. Teresa Binghay and Jhearlyn Jabellana. The crimes alleged against them are syndicated illegal recruitment under RA 10022 and estafa in relation to RA 10175 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Mabatid did not appear in any of the hearings called by the City Fiscal, and her counsel Glenna Jean Ogan said initially that based on Facebook, the former Cebu City councilor “appears to be in Australia at present.”

In her response to the complaints, Mabatid denied any connection with PinoyCare Visa Center and Opportunities Abroad, the two visa consultancy companies she allegedly used to recruit the complainants to apply for student visas to Canada.

Mabatid claimed she was a legal recruiter, being the owner of Amax Philippines, which is licensed by the POEA or Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

She also asserted that all the cases filed against her were a malicious intent to tarnish her reputation. As to who it could be, she named “a credible source” as saying that the complainants had communicated with The SUN editor and lawyer Daisy Mandap, who she alleged as a “leftist propagator (sic)” who has been targeting her to prevent OFWs from seeking a  better life in Canada.

The next hearing of the preliminary investigation is set for June 13.

Separately, the Department of Justice has started hearing the complaints filed by 12 applicants of PCVC/Opportunities Abroad and endorsed by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Recommended for prosecution for alleged large-scale illegal recruitment, and syndicated estafa under Art 315 par 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code are Prisca Nina O Mabatid, Adam Hechanova, Mark Gamallo, Clint Victor Caingles, Bernie Uy and Clark M. Jueco.

Like in the previous case, the complainants here claim to have been duped by the respondents into paying no less than P100,000 each on the pretext of securing student visas to Canada for them.

The next hearing of the case has been set down for Monday, July1.

Migrante said it has also been informed of the filing of similar complaints against Mabatid in Cebu, but has yet to get details. The DMW in Cebu is also said to be behind the move to get the complaints pursued in court.

Mabatid was a no-show in 3 Senate hearings on massive illegal recruitment 

Earlier, Mabatid was summoned to appear before the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers headed by Senator Raffy Tulfo, to respond to complaints filed by about 100 Filipinos from all over the country who claimed to have been similarly defrauded by her and her group.

Mabatid failed to appear in any of the three hearings called by the Committee, as a result of which she was issued with a “show-cause” order on Feb. 13.

Staff of the Senate Committee have told The SUN that another hearing would be called, but did not specify a date.

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