Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 4) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday it is assisting the Filipinos who paid as much as P179,000 each to land jobs in Italy but were swindled by Alpha Assistenzia, a fraudulent immigration service.
\”As of 03 October there are 60 complainants who have requested the Consulate’s assistance. This brings to 221 the number of individuals who paid as much as €3,000.00 for jobs in Italy,\” the DFA released a statement.
According to DFA, the Consulate is eyeing charges against the swindlers who are also reportedly Filipinos.
Possible charges involve faking airline tickets, work permits, and citizenship applications, it also said.
“The Consulate also interviewed a key witness yesterday whose name was among those used in filing work permit applications,” it added.
Kabayan Partylist Representative Ron Salo, chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, earlier urged the DFA, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the Philippine Consulate General in Milan to coordinate with Italian authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.
\”The crimes were committed within the jurisdiction of Italy, making it imperative to coordinate with the Italian authorities to ensure that justice is served,\” Salo said.
\”In criminal law, territorial jurisdiction is fundamental, and collaboration with local authorities is crucial to bring the perpetrators to account for their actions,\” he also said.
