Regional Trial Court Judge Fernando Elumba has issued arrest warrants against the executive director and marketing officer of Global Placement Provider Services Inc. for estafa and for violation of R.A. 8042.

The arrest warrants were issued by Elumba against Jocelyn Lantron and Dobbie Aungon on June 28, 2011 with bail bond of P40,000 each, for violation of R.A. 8042 or the Migrant Worker and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, while no bail bond was recommended for their temporary liberty for the crime of estafa.

The Bacolod City Prosecutor had earlier approved the filing of charges against Lantron, Aungon and Elsie Niadas, based on complaints lodged by Maritess Manayon, Janice Alacapa, Liezl Segovia, Marvie Ann Donguines, Lirenz Kaye Gamboa, Gary Louie Dalag and Hazel Marie Paglumotan.

Assistant prosecutor Gwendolyn Jimenea-Tiu, in a joint resolution approved by city prosecutor Armando Abando, found probable cause to file charges for illegal recruitment in large scale against Lantron and Aungon, and simple illegal recruitment charges against Niadas.

The complainants claimed that the firm collected money from them with a promise to live, work and study in the United Kingdom.

Tiu said that a careful evaluation of the statements of the complainants and respondents showed that the complainants applied for a Tier 4 (student) visa, which is the professional service offered to them by GPPS.

While the respondents vehemently denied that GPPS promised the complainants work when they get to England, all the complainants firmly maintained that Lantron assured them that the fastest way to enter the United Kingdom is through a student visa, Tui said.

Meanwhile, Aungon and Niadas, had executed a joint affidavit, attesting that GPPS neither recruits nor attempts to present itself as a recruiter for overseas employment but only assists student and volunteer applicants process and secure visas from the British Embassy for prospective academic enrollment and volunteer service in the UK.

They also said GPPS does not accept applicants for employment abroad and is not licensed for that kind of activity.*CGS

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