Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.
(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — Three Filipino jobseekers have filed criminal complaints for qualified trafficking in persons against a group of individuals accused of operating a bogus overseas recruitment scheme that escalated into forced labor, extortion, and sexual exploitation.
In sworn affidavits submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the complainants alleged that from May to July 2025, they were lured by promises of high-paying jobs in Europe, only to find themselves victimized by what they described as a syndicate posing as an employment placement agency.
The complaint identified the respondents as Adel En Nouri, Raffaela A. Razon, Krizia Ann Geronda Loyang, Ricardo Evangelista Fernandez, and Joshua Sy Lim for charges of Qualified Trafficking in Persons under Sections 4(a) and 6(c) of Republic Act 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
Court documents show that Nouri has been implicated in another trafficking case filed before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the affidavits, the complainants first encountered the recruitment scheme on Facebook through a page called “Nouri International Placement Agency.” Respondents Razon and Loyang, who introduced themselves as human resources staff, promised jobs in Europe with a monthly salary of P80,000.
The applicants were told to pay a placement fee of P100,000 each, which they did in installments and lump sums. Receipts signed by Razon and prepared by Loyang were attached as annexes to the complaint.
Meetings were allegedly held at a Starbucks branch in SM City Bacoor, Cavite, where the complainants were reassured of their applications and introduced to other respondents, including Ricardo Fernandez, who also claimed to be part of the agency’s recruitment team.
Eventually, the group met Adel En Nouri, who introduced himself as a London-based executive with connections to a leading luxury department store.
To secure their supposed deployment, the complainants were later required to pay an additional P50,000 each for airfare. They also met Lim, who was presented as the coordinator for exit clearance with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
Messenger conversations submitted as evidence showed the agency directing the applicants to bring their belongings to an address in Queens Row West, Sampaguita Street, Bacoor City, where they were told to make changes to their application forms and undergo supposed “training.”
On July 7, 2025, the complainants reported that upon arriving at the Bacoor residence, which doubled as the agency’s office, they were forced to do household and office chores under threat of losing their “slots.”
That night, the situation escalated when Adel En Nouri allegedly pressured Jane and April to send lewd photos. When they refused, the other respondents threatened them.
According to the complaint, Nouri demanded a video call in which Jane and April were coerced to kiss and undress. Lim allegedly entered the room carrying a gun to enforce compliance.
The next day, the women were physically assaulted — slapped by Fernandez and Lim — before being forced into another video call that turned into live sexual exploitation. Nouri allegedly instructed the women to perform sexual acts while Lim watched and brandished his firearm.
Fearing for the safety of his companions, one of the male complainants helped the two female recruits escape in the early morning of July 8, 2025. The three returned to their families and later went back to the Bacoor address, only to find the residence abandoned.
They then filed their complaint, attaching receipts, identification cards, and Messenger exchanges as evidence.
The complainants’ counsel cited provisions of RA 9208 in their filing, specifically: Section 4(a): recruitment, transport, or harboring of persons for purposes of sexual exploitation, forced labor, or slavery; Section 6(c): trafficking committed by a syndicate, defined as a group of three or more persons acting in concert.
Certification of the complaint was signed by all three complainants.
The DOJ is expected to evaluate the complaint and determine if formal charges will be filed in court. If indicted and convicted, the accused could face penalties of life imprisonment and fines of up to P5 million, as prescribed by law.
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