Couple nabbed in Cagayan for alleged Poland recruitment scam; authorities hunt 2 more suspects

Cagayan, Philippines – A couple accused of promising high-paying jobs in Poland and collecting hundreds of thousands of pesos from aspiring overseas workers has been arrested in Cagayan for their alleged involvement in a large-scale illegal recruitment scheme.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) identified the suspects as Maria Theresa Sibayan Constantino, also known as "Rizza Sibayan," and her husband, Prodencio Pascua.

In a press release issued on July 2, the DMW's Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons Program said the two were arrested in separate operations conducted by the Lal-lo Municipal Police Station and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Cagayan.

The arrests were carried out after the Regional Trial Court Branch 6 in Aparri issued warrants against the couple in connection with the alleged large-scale illegal recruitment case filed by the DMW.

Scheme allegedly made to appear legitimate

According to the DMW, the suspects allegedly offered factory worker and repacker jobs in Poland with promised monthly salaries of up to ₱120,000.

Investigators said each applicant was allegedly required to pay ₱250,000 as a processing fee to secure the supposed overseas employment.

To make the operation appear legitimate, Pascua allegedly introduced himself as a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Brunei who claimed that Constantino had helped him obtain work abroad.

Authorities said he also allegedly posed as another applicant bound for Poland to gain the trust and confidence of prospective victims.

Based on the victims' statements, investigators said Constantino and Pascua instructed applicants to deposit their payments into a bank account as part of the supposed processing requirements.

Two more suspects still being hunted

As the investigation progressed, authorities identified two more alleged members of the group.

They were identified as Michelle Antonio Sibayan, Constantino's sister, who allegedly acted as an agent, and Margie Cortez Tuglao, who was said to have contacts with employers in Europe and allegedly assisted in processing the victims' supposed deployment.

Authorities are continuing their search for the two women to answer for their alleged involvement in the case.

Meanwhile, the DMW urged other possible victims to come forward and file complaints so they can receive legal assistance and help strengthen the case against the suspects.

Individuals with information or who believe they may have been victimized may contact the DMW through its official Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons Program Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip