Woman arrested for swindling 2 would-be OFWs
MANILA, Philippines — A Filipina who once served time in a California prison for fraud and abuse of an elderly was arrested by lawmen in Quezon City last Wednesday for allegedly swindling two aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Benilda Batoon-Olivo, 62, alias Belinda Cariňo-Batoon, whose address was listed as No. 6 Interior Conchu St., Project 4, Quezon City, was cornered by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Cubao during an entrapment operation.
NBI Director Nestor Mantaring on Friday said charges of fraud and violation of Republic Act 8042, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, are being readied against the suspect, who is presently detained at the NBI jail in Manila.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) female swindler who was earlier arrested in California, USA, for victimizing prospective overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) after claiming that she could facilitate visa applications overseas, arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation last Wednesday in Cubao, Quezon City, the bureau reported on Friday.
A report by the NBI’s Background Investigation Division under head agent Arnold Lazaro said Olivo was arrested during an entrapment operation in Cubao following a complaint by Rosana Joves and Teresita Abando.
The complainants claimed that Olivo befriended them and asked if they were interested in working and eventually settling in Canada or the United States, adding that she could expedite their visa applications.
All they have to do was to prepare their income tax return, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) business name, and pay the respective fees—P30,000 for visa application; P34,000 for DTI business name; P45,000 for ITR; P45,000 for the consul; and P45,000 for the plane ticket.
Joves said he paid P145,600 while Abando was required to pay the initial amount of P30,000 for visa application for Canada.
When Olivo’s promise of immediate deployment did not materialize, the complainants asked her to demand their money back. But she never returned any, prompting the complainants to seek NBI assistance.
On Wednesday, an entrapment was planned, with pay-off set 5 p.m. inside a fastfood chain located at the Araneta Center in Cubao.
After Olivo received the marked money, NBI agents announced her arrest.
Investigation by NBI later found that the suspect was once sentenced to prison in California after she was convicted of 13 felony counts of securities fraud and elder abuse.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Olivo was neither authorized nor licensed to recruit workers for overseas employment.
NBI officials said other victims of Olivo have come to file their complaints after learning of her arrest. - GMANews.TV .
Benilda Batoon-Olivo, 62, alias Belinda Cariňo-Batoon, whose address was listed as No. 6 Interior Conchu St., Project 4, Quezon City, was cornered by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Cubao during an entrapment operation.
NBI Director Nestor Mantaring on Friday said charges of fraud and violation of Republic Act 8042, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, are being readied against the suspect, who is presently detained at the NBI jail in Manila.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) female swindler who was earlier arrested in California, USA, for victimizing prospective overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) after claiming that she could facilitate visa applications overseas, arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation last Wednesday in Cubao, Quezon City, the bureau reported on Friday.
A report by the NBI’s Background Investigation Division under head agent Arnold Lazaro said Olivo was arrested during an entrapment operation in Cubao following a complaint by Rosana Joves and Teresita Abando.
The complainants claimed that Olivo befriended them and asked if they were interested in working and eventually settling in Canada or the United States, adding that she could expedite their visa applications.
All they have to do was to prepare their income tax return, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) business name, and pay the respective fees—P30,000 for visa application; P34,000 for DTI business name; P45,000 for ITR; P45,000 for the consul; and P45,000 for the plane ticket.
Joves said he paid P145,600 while Abando was required to pay the initial amount of P30,000 for visa application for Canada.
When Olivo’s promise of immediate deployment did not materialize, the complainants asked her to demand their money back. But she never returned any, prompting the complainants to seek NBI assistance.
On Wednesday, an entrapment was planned, with pay-off set 5 p.m. inside a fastfood chain located at the Araneta Center in Cubao.
After Olivo received the marked money, NBI agents announced her arrest.
Investigation by NBI later found that the suspect was once sentenced to prison in California after she was convicted of 13 felony counts of securities fraud and elder abuse.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Olivo was neither authorized nor licensed to recruit workers for overseas employment.
NBI officials said other victims of Olivo have come to file their complaints after learning of her arrest. - GMANews.TV .
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