30 March 2005 --  The Department of Foreign Affairs today warned Filipinos of  a false recruitment scheme by an agency in Manila reportedly recruiting Filipinos to work as waitresses in Palasia Hotel in Palau and asking for a PhP 45,000 placement fee.

Philippine Ambassador to Koror, Palau Leoncio Parungao, Jr. conveyed the warning to the Department after receiving a  letter from  Mr. Andy Yang, General Manager of Palasia Hotel Palau, asking for the Embassy’s assistance to investigate the case and take appropriate action to inform the public of the unscrupulous activities.

In his letter, Mr. Yang stated that “Palasia Hotel is not recruiting any worker in the Philippines and is not offering employment for $600 per month.”  He added that “Palasia Hotel has no knowledge about the persons who are placing the notices or advertisements, and has not given any person or entity the authorization to recruit or hire any workers of any kind.”

Mr. Yang also indicated that two Palauans, Mr. Haruo Esang and Mr. Harry Besebes, were reported to be related to, or part of the advertising scheme.   But the two persons denied any involvement in the scheme.  The Palasia Hotel General Manager also mentioned a local Palau telephone number - a “779” - as a contact number for inquiries, which apparently belongs to a certain Beth del Rosario, a massage therapist at Haruo Esang’s Crowning Glory Beauty Shop in Medalaii.

Ambassador Parungao, Jr. advises Filipinos to watch out for this false recruitment scheme and asks the public to report to the authorities especially to Captain Reynaldo Jaylo of the Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force (telephone 521-4321/4326) anyone that recruits for Palasia Hotel Palau. END
 

/jay