Four want names cleared by RP govt

The four Saipan residents who were arrested for alleged illegal recruitment in the Philippines last March want their names cleared of any wrongdoing, claiming that they were merely framed for extortion.

The four—Brian P. Reyes, David B. Cepeda, Eugenio T. Borja, and Jesus C. Lizama—are also demanding a refund of the money totaling over P1 million (over $20,000) that they allegedly paid to certain people, including an attorney at the Bureau of Immigration, for their release.

The four were detained for 25 days at the Bureau of Immigration Detention Center in Bicutan, Metro Manila, initially for alleged illegal recruitment.

“We want to clear our names,” said Reyes.

Reyes, who owns a nightclub on Saipan, said he is no longer interested in going back to the Philippines.

“I’ve lost the interest. My wife can go there anytime [because she’s from there],” said Reyes, 49, in an interview.

Lizama, 68, said the only thing he wants “is to have my name cleared.” He too said that he has no more interest in traveling to the Philippines.

Borja, 38, said that despite the bad experience, he is not discounting the possibility of going back to the Philippines for medical and personal reasons.

He said he actually needs to go there next month for a golf tournament. “I like the Philippines a lot but this thing is holding us back. It’s just so sad. I want my name removed from the blacklist,” Borja said.

In an affidavit submitted by Reyes to Sen. Henry San Nicolas, whose committee is reportedly investigating the Manila incident, he said that his group paid P400,000 for attorneys fees, P220,000 for deportation fee, over P200,000 for escort fee, P28,000 for police and court clearances, and $150,000 for retrieval of missing passport, clearances, and other documents.

He said over P800,000 of the amount was paid to BID attorney Eleuterio Balina, through a travel agent named Fe V. Vanzuela.

Reyes’ affidavit also alleged that another Saipan resident, Cornelio Castro, was involved in the scheme.

Castro, according to Reyes, was with Vanzuela when they met to discuss their release.

“Ms. Banzuela was accompanied by a fellow Saipanese by the name of Mr. Cornelio Castro, whom we asked if the assistance by Atty. Balina is all legal… Both assured us that it is all legal and we would be provided with all legal documents from the Immigration Office,” said Reyes.

Reyes said that Balina had promised that they would be released by March 31, 2004, or four days after their arrest.

In the same affidavit, Reyes demanded that the Philippine government pay them back “all the expenses due to false charges and corruption in the Immigration Office.”

Reyes, in his affidavit, also said that the Philippine government should also “place Castro under surveillance and charge him with extortion if and when he enters the Philippines.”

Reyes’ affidavit was also signed by Cepeda, Borja, and Lizama on Aug. 13, 2004.

Earlier, Sen. Pete P. Reyes, the older brother of Brian, cited that Vanzeula, manager of Cavite Fair Travelhaus Co., a warden and an assistant warden were the other beneficiaries of the extortion money.

The four Saipan residents were brought to BID office in Intramuros on March 29 and were interviewed by chief intelligence division Faizal U. Hussein, who reportedly told them that their case was deportable.

On the same day, Vanzuela allegedly approached the four and offered to help them through Balina on the condition that they pay P220,000 for deportation fees, P200,000 for escort fees, and P400,000 legal fees.

She promised them that they would be released in three days.

Reyes said Balina, through Vanzeula, demanded another P100,000 three days before their scheduled departure, otherwise their release would be postponed. Reyes said the last demand was not paid.

Meantime, Reyes said that after the initial case was dropped, the four were charged again this time, with promoting prostitution and subsequently, theft “of a large cow,” illegal cockfighting and illegal gambling.

The wardens had also allegedly threatened the four with “lethal injection” and extorted money from them while they were being taken from one cell to another.

All demands were paid with no receipts except for the deportation fees of P220,000, the senator had said.

Brian Reyes said their arrest was an obvious setup by the BID officers.

He said that in the evening of March 26, his group was in one of the adjoining rooms of Mabini Mansion having dinner “when suddenly, an agent by the name of Luie came into room with some girls without our knowledge.”

Shortly after, immigration officers, along with the media, “stormed into the rooms and started placing documents believed to be bio-data of some workers on the table and started videotaping.”

Reyes said they had never seen or reviewed the documents.

“Because of the fact that the arrest was made without properly being informed as to the reason of the arrest and the arresting officials not properly identifying themselves, it is our profound feeling that our apprehension was not only illegal, but was tantamount to official government kidnapping,” he said.

Reyes said they were finally released from detention when his wife, Emily, and her family met with a certain Maj. R. Liwag “who guided them in the right direction and procedures.”

“Without the help and honesty of Major Liwag, we may still be locked up,” he said.

Reports in Philippine media said that the four were arrested for recruiting Filipinos for work in the CNMI without a license from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

Reports said that immigration prosecutor Jose Carlitos Licas said the four Americans “acted as pimps by allegedly turning some of their recruits into sex workers” on Saipan.

Reyes’ group denied the allegation, noting that they went to Manila mainly for a visit.

“When they were taking us, they were telling us we’re not good people and that we’d be locked up permanently. We’re good citizens and we have no intention to commit any illegal act,” Reyes said.