MANILA - Authorities arrested Thursday a couple suspected of involvement in illegal recruitment and falsifying consulate documents in an entrapment operation in Pedro Gil, Paco, Manila.

The suspects were identified as Eladio Cabrera and Melissa Cadorna.

According to Supt. Roque Merdegia Jr. of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group - Anti Transnational Crime Unit (CIDG-ATCU), 3 applicants filed a complaint against the couple after they were promised jobs in Dubai and Qatar.

"Ni-recruit papuntang Qatar at Dubai as tourists, pero sila ay magtatrabaho sa Dubai bilang domestic helpers at cleaners. They were promised with salaries of US$1,500 a month," he said.

"Allegedly pagdating doon mayroong sasalo sa kanilang agency at merong sponsors na mga Pilipino rin na nagtratrabaho sa Dubai," he added.

The couple asked for P30,000 as processing fee per applicant. The victims gave P20,000 to the suspects as initial payment for the affidavit of sponsorship from the office of the consulate in Dubai and Qatar.

Merdegia said the couple promised the victims they will be deployed in October.

The victims discovered that the couple were not authorized by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to recruit workers abroad.

Operatives found falsified documents and a red ribbon with dry seal of various consulates in the Middle East during the raid.

"Ang nakakaalarma rito, nakakalusot sa Immigration o sa terminal itong mga taong gumagamit ng mga pekeng sponsorship and assurance," Merdegia said.

Complaints of illegal recruitment, swindling, and falsification of public document were filed against the suspects. - report from Maan Macapagal, ABS-CBN News