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illegal recruiters, immediately contacted a friend, a certain Mayeth Bellotindos, so they
could both go to No. 26-D, Tetuan Highway, Sta. Cruz, Zamboanga City, where the
recruitment was reportedly being undertaken. Upon arriving at the reported area at
around 4:00 p.m., Bellotindos entered the house and pretended to be an applicant.
Ramos remained outside and stood on the pavement, from where he was able to see
around six (6) persons in the house's sala. Ramos even heard a woman, identified as
Carol Fegueroa, talk about the possible employment she has to provide in Singapore
and the documents that the applicants have to comply with. Fifteen (15) minutes later,
Bellotindos came out with a bio-data form in hand.
On February 1, 1994, Ramos conferred with a certain Capt. Mendoza of the Criminal
Investigation Service (CIS) to organize the arrest of the alleged illegal recruiter. Also
present were other members of the CIS, including Col. Rodolfo Almonte, Regional
Director of the PNP-CIS for Region IX, Eileen Fermindoza, and a certain SPO3 Santos.
The group planned to entrap the illegal recruiter the next day by having Fermindoza
pose as an applicant.[3]
On February 2, 1994, at around 8:00 p.m., Col. Almonte directed the case to SPO2
Erwin Manalopilar, a member of the Philippine National Police who was assigned as an
investigator of the CIS, to conduct a surveillance of the area to confirm the report of
illegal recruitment. Accordingly, he, along with Eileen Fermindoza, immediately
proceeded to Tetuan Highway. The two did not enter the house where the recruitment
was supposedly being conducted, but Fermindoza interviewed two people who informed
them that some people do go inside the house. Upon returning to their office at around
8:30 a.m., the two reported to Capt. Mendoza who organized a team to conduct the
raid.
The raiding team, which included Capt. Mendoza, SPO2 Manalopilar, Fermindoza and a
certain Oscar Bucol, quickly set off and arrived at the reported scene at 9:30 that
morning. There they met up with Erlie Ramos of the POEA. Fermindoza then proceeded
to enter the house while the rest of the team posted themselves outside to secure the
area. Fermindoza was instructed to come out after she was given a bio-data form,
which will serve as the team's cue to enter the house.[4]
Fermindoza introduced herself as a job applicant to a man and a woman, apparently
the owners of the house, and went inside. There, she saw another woman, later
identified as Jasmine, coming out of the bathroom. The man to whom Fermindoza
earlier introduced herself told Jasmine that Fermindoza was applying for a position.
Jasmine, who was then only wearing a towel, told her that she would just get dressed.
Jasmine then came back and asked Fermindoza what position she was applying for.
Fermindoza replied that she was applying to be a babysitter or any other work so long
as she could go abroad. Jasmine then gave her an application form.
A few minutes later, a certain Carol arrived. Jasmine informed Carol that Fermindoza
was an applicant. Fermindoza asked Carol what the requirements were and whether
she (Fermindoza) was qualified. Carol told Fermindoza that if she had a passport, she
could fill up the application papers. Fermindoza replied that she had no passport yet.
Carol said she need not worry since Jasmine will prepare the passport for her. While
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