BID hunts Ilongga, American hubby over large scale illegal recruitment, estafa

By Florence F. Hibionada

A Mission Order (MO) is in the offing anew for the immediate arrest of an Ilongga and her American husband charged for illegal recruitment in large scale and estafa charges here.

The MO is being worked on by the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) following last month’s unsuccessful attempt to effect the arrest.  A native of Pototan, Iloilo, subjects of the continued BID hunt are Ma. Christie Parreño of Ledesma Street, Pototan and her U.S. citizen husband, Marque Van Popering.

The News Today got the confirmation from BID regional chief, Reinfred Tubal who vowed to work on the order with the duo now included in the BID “Watchlist Order”.

The Van Poperings are “targets” No. 009 as reflected in the nationwide Watchlist Order of the bureau issued August 2, 2005 by Associate Commissioner Teodoro Delarmente.
Such, on top of the active arrest warrants on the duo issued back in May by Judge Guiljie Lim of Branch 23, RTC here in Criminal Case Nos. 04-60453 to 56 for illegal recruitment in large scale.  Yet another arrest warrant was also issued only in July for the two by Judge Loida Diestro-Maputol for Criminal Case Nos. 05-61308 to 05-61315 for estafa.

“If encountered, effect their arrest and refer to the nearest police authorities,” Associate Commissioner Delarmente ordered.
 
Tubal in working on the order then got the government-mandated MO that authorized him or any available agent to conduct operation in Barangay Tumcon, Ilawod, Pototan, Iloilo or “wherever found.”

Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. signed the MO as contained in MO No. AFF-05-074 with a 15-day validity period.  It was not immediately known if sightings were made of late on the couple amidst concern that they have fled the country even before a hold-order was made on them.

The News Today gathered that no bail has been recommended for the temporary liberty of the Van Poperings over the large scale illegal recruitment raps while estafa charges carried bail ranging from P16,000 to P40,000 on each count lodged against each of the accused.

Results proved negative in the August 17th operation of the BID headed by Tubal and Pototan Police Chief, Senior Insp. Gallardo.   Such, after a weeklong surveillance made in the target barangay, throughout Pototan and nearby areas.

“In view therefore, it is strongly recommended that this operational level be allowed to continuously conduct non-cont act surveillance activities on the Subjects and that if concrete evidence can be established as to their whereabouts, a new Mission Order upon request can be issued to this operational level to effect the intents of the Mission Order No. AFF – 05074 on August 2, 2005,” Tubal wrote back to Commisioner Fernandez.