The Commission on Human Rights in Negros Oriental has wrapped up its investigation on the alleged illegal recruitment activity involving about 500 job applicants on the promise of employment in Korea.

Jess Cañete, CHR provincial chief, said yesterday that copies of the findings of the investigation were submitted to Gov. Roel Degamo and to the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation involves the recruitment and Korean language skills training allegedly by Grace Jameo, manager of the Public Employment Service Office of Lapu-lapu City, Cebu, and Buenavantura Igot and Arturo Aliason of the AB Language Training Academy.

The activities were found to be allegedly illegal, and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the CHR conducted later independent investigations when the jobseekers complained that they were deceived by Jameo and her companions.

Cañete said he found sufficient evidence to warrant the filing of criminal complaints against Jameo, Igot and Aliason, who are also facing separate charges filed by the complainants, assisted by the POEA earlier.

Jameo is charged with illegal recruitment while Igot and Aliason with large scale estafa, Cañete added.

The POEA was earlier quoted as saying in media reports that Jameo was not authorized to conduct recruitment but only to help in the launching of the agency’s e-registration program in Negros Oriental.

Igot and Aliason are facing large scale estafa charges.

He said the CHR is waiting for the prosecutor’s resolution on the complaints filed against the three before filing its own charges against the three, even if the prosecutor dismisses the cases filed against them.

Cañete, meanwhile, cleared Ramon Benedicto, provincial PESO manager of Negros Oriental. He said Benedicto was simply acting “in good faith” when he provided assistance and support to Jameo.

Cañete added Benedicto was just doing his job when he announced the activity through the media and other venues.

But, he said Benedicto could be held liable administratively for his failure to protect the interests of the applicants, who had shelled out about P4-million in language training fees and modules.

He said he has recommended to Degamo that Benedicto be subjected to administrative proceedings.

Cañete said he has not set a date yet on when they will file the complaints against Jameo, Igot and Aliason.*JFP

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