US human trafficking ring busted—labor chief

MANILA, Philippines—A syndicate involved in large-scale human trafficking of Filipino workers to the United States has been busted, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said Thursday.

Baldoz said charges against ZDrive Inc., a Laguna-based private employment agency, and US Opportunities, an employment services company owned by a certain Mike Lombardi, are already being prepared.

The labor chief identified the 18 victims as Rodolfo Andrade, Ferdinand Antigo, Dennis Belda, Peter Cabusao, Jhoanne Davocol, Eduardo Deytiquez, Lheniehl Florida , Jimmy Hinayo, Theodore Jastillana III, Orlando Lavarnez, Enrico Edmundo Lising, Michael Angelo Maghirang, Jason Magundayao, Wilfredo Mislang, Imie Ramos, Henry Sejera, Regie Tesoro, and Roberto Verzo Jr.

“According to our investigation, the victims were illegally trafficked to the United States and were forced to endure sub-human and sub-standard conditions of work,” she said.

According to the victims, after ZDrive recruited them sometime in 2009, they arrived in the US in winter. In the unfamiliar environment, they were compelled to work in a forest farm under subhuman conditions and forced to sleep in trailers without water and electricity.

Worse, they were allegedly subjected to threats and intimidation, made to rake and bail pine leaves in the dead of winter, and forced to plant 1,800 pine tree seedlings a day on measly, subhuman wages equivalent to $40a week. According to the US Department of Labor, the federal minimum wage for covered non-exempt employees is $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009, consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Many states also enforce their minimum wage laws.

Eventually, they found the courage to escape but in good faith, got in touch with ZDrive.

However, instead of helping them, ZDrive instructed them to work in various hotels and entertainment facilities where they were paid below the minimum wage and their wages subjected to illegal deductions.

ZDrive had recruited the unsuspecting victims, who were unwittingly made to pay large fees in exchange for the promise of lucrative employment as food and beverage servers in the United States. During the processing of their applications, however, they were compelled to pay for various requirements such as medical fees, visa application fees, and placement fees. When their passports, with the approved visas, were delivered to ZDrive, allegedly through a certain Julius Bana and a certain Robert Refugio, the agency explained that the total costs they would be shouldering amount to P250,000, which are way beyond the normal legal requirements for OFWs.

Furthermore, ZDrive allegedly demanded that the victims pay the difference between the P250,000 and the expenses already incurred for visa and other fees, so that if a victim had already expended P50,000, he or she would still be required to pay the additional P200,000 to ZDrive. For those who did not have the means to raise the required fees, ZDrive allegedly referred them for loans to their partner lending companies identified as the AsiaLink Finance Corp. and the PJH Lending Corp., for which they were required corresponding collateral such as real estate properties.

Complicating the victims’ sad plight, these companies reportedly resorted to criminally suing the victims-complainants for violation of Batas Pambansa 22, threatening them with foreclosure of the mortgages constituted over the real properties they offered as collaterals for the loans they incurred in exchange for non-existent jobs promised in the US.

Baldoz pledged the complete support of her office so that the victims and their families may get justice.

The syndicates were neutralized after the victims complained to the US Department of Homeland Security. The victims were assisted by US attorney Ellaine Carr, who is affiliated with Catholic charities, and is assisting the victims in the US on a pro bono basis. - INQUIRER.net, September 30, 2010