Operatives under the coordination between the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) shut down the offices of GEMELLI TRAVEL AND TOURS located at the Ground Floor of Joncor Building in A. Mabini St., Ermita, Manila after it was found recruiting applicants for jobs abroad without prior POEA license.
Employees Artina Zafra and Loriely Labayo were caught performing unauthorized transactions for the agency, which is primarily engaged in holiday bookings. The agency’s owner was identified as Jocelyn D. Hafiz Ismael.
It was learned that the agency’s modus operandi involved recruitment of workers such as bellboy, waiter, service crew, receptionist and room attendant in the Netherlands. Applicants were charged between P120,000 and P150,000.