MANILA, Philippines – An illegal recruiter messed with the wrong job seekers.

Cornelio Draniel Molina learned this lesson the hard way when 7 applicants for jobs that didn’t exist in New Zealand made a citizen’s arrest on August 4 in the premises of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA).

Molina allegedly promised applicants employment in New Zealand for the positions of “welder, driver and animal technician,” when he was not licensed to recruit for those jobs. He charged applicants P35,000 to P40,000 each for “placement” and “medical examination fees,” the POEA said in a press statement.

Deputy Administrator and officer-in-charge Liberty Casco said Molina collected the applicants’ documents including passports, NBI clearance, birth certificate, and marriage contract.

Molina provided the workers visas, which were later determined to be fake. The anti-illegal recruitment branch of the POEA and PNP-CIDG-ATCU assisted in preparing for the inquest proceedings. 

The POEA reminds the public to only apply with licensed recruitment agencies that have approved job orders. – Rappler.com