₱220K Overseas job scam hits 5 victims: Woman wanted in the Cagayan recruitment case arrested

APARRI, Cagayan — A woman accused of defrauding five Cagayan jobseekers of a combined ₱220,000 through a bogus overseas factory job scheme has been arrested in Antipolo City, Rizal, according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

The suspect, whose identity was withheld by authorities, was arrested earlier this month in Barangay Bagong Nayon 1, Antipolo City, based on warrants issued by the court in Aparri, Cagayan, on June 24, 2026.

She was listed as the No. 10 Regional Most Wanted Person in Cagayan Valley and is facing charges of large-scale illegal recruitment and estafa.

The warrant for large-scale illegal recruitment carries no recommended bail, while bail for estafa was set at ₱18,000.

Promised ₱120K monthly salary

According to the CIDG, the suspect and three alleged cohorts recruited applicants in Sta. Ana and Gonzaga, Cagayan, from June to November 2025.

They allegedly offered factory jobs in Europe and Poland through Facebook posts, messaging applications and group chats, promising salaries of up to ₱120,000 per month.

The CIDG said the recruitment activities were allegedly conducted without the required license or authority from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) or the former Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

The five complainants allegedly paid a combined ₱220,000 for placement, processing and slot reservation fees.

Instead of securing overseas employment, the transactions resulted in the filing of criminal charges against the alleged recruiters.

Suspect arrested in Rizal

The arrest was carried out through a joint operation involving the CIDG Cagayan Provincial Field Unit, Rizal Provincial Intelligence Team of Regional Intelligence Unit 4A, Cagayan North Provincial Intelligence Team of Regional Intelligence Unit 2, Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Cagayan Police Provincial Office, and the local police unit.

Authorities are continuing efforts to locate and arrest the suspect’s three alleged cohorts.

CIDG officials commended the operating teams for tracking the suspect from Cagayan to Rizal.

The CIDG, under Director PMGen Robert AA Morico II, reminded jobseekers to verify overseas employment offers and recruitment agencies with the appropriate government agencies before paying any fees.

The agency also reiterated its commitment to protecting Filipino workers from illegal recruitment and ensuring that the rights and welfare of migrant workers are protected.

The case was filed under Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act, along with the appropriate provisions on estafa.