FOR COUNTERFEIT CHARGES Court to try illegal recruitment victims

Superior Court Associate Judge Timothy H. Bellas yesterday found probable cause to try seven Filipinos, who are victims of illegal recruitment in Manila, on allegations of counterfeiting $5,000 worth of 100-dollar bills.

The fake greenback were discovered in the group’s possession when they arrived at the Saipan International Airport last Jan. 24, 2001.

An arraignment hearing has been set for Monday, Feb. 5, 2001.

During yesterday’s preliminary proceedings, a Department of Public Safety officer who took to the witness stand testified that some of the illegal recruitment victims had knowledge that the currency in their possession were counterfeit.

The witness, who is the lead police officer assigned to the case, claimed that prior to the group’s arrival on Saipan, they were briefed by a certain Emma Ragoyal Cabigting who had given them the fake dollars in Manila.

After use, the Filipinos were instructed to send the currency back to Ms. Cabigting in the Philippines.

The police officer based his testimony on case reports and interviews conducted by other officers involved in the investigation.

A lawyer representing one of the defendants raised question on how investigators were able to efficiently interview the defendants who predominantly have weak English communication skills.

Yesterday’s hearing was conducted in the presence of an English to Tagalog translator for the benefit of the Filipino defendants.

In testing the credibility of the witness, the defense team grilled the officer on the manner in which he was able to gain custody of the illegal recruitment victims.

The witness claimed he had requested the group who came in as tourists to proceed with him to the police station for investigation.

He, however, admitted he did not make it clear to the new arrivals that they did not have to come with him to the station if they did not wish to do so.

The defendants were intercepted at the airport last week carrying fake US dollars originally intended to be mere “show money” at the immigration. They claimed to have been instructed by their recruiter to just show immigration officers the money so they will be allowed entry into the Commonwealth.

The group revealed their recruiters promised them good jobs in the Northern Marianas in exchange for a processing and placement fee of between $1,000 and $1,500 which they handed to their recruiters.

The promised jobs turned out to be a hoax and the recruiter — apparently illegal.

The victims have earlier told authorities that only at the time of their encounter with the Commonwealth Immigration did they learn that they were actually carrying counterfeit dollars.

Charged with counterfeiting are Rolando Hilongo Lambio, Nelia Baradi Florendo, Archie Barnatcha Macapagal, Ronalia De Guzman Navarro, Romeo Gumin Montoya, Thelma Loqueno Tejano, and Bobby C. Valde.

Most of the suspects had to sell their livelihoods back in the Philippines to come up with the money they paid to the job recruitment agency.