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LUCENA CITY, Quezon – A Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Catanauan, Quezon has issued warrants of arrest for former General Luna, Quezon Mayor Matt Erwin Florido and his administrative aide for two counts of large-scale illegal recruitment.
Presiding Judge Julius Francis Galvez of the Catanauan Regional Trial Court Branch 96 issued the arrest warrants after finding probable cause to hold the two accused for trial.
Florido and Joma Christina Briones allegedly violated Section 6 of Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.
The charge sheet signed by Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Lirio Roces Munoz and approved by Provincial Prosecutor Rodrigo Domingo on May 16 said Florido and Briones recruited and promised overseas employment to Ginabel Aguila, Mary Rose Roldan, Jun Carlo Roldan, Renato Moreno Jr., Reynan Ricamara, Richie Moreno, Romulo Rodelas, and Efleda Alano, all residents of Barangay Recto, Gen. Luna, as seasonal farm workers in South Korea without any permit or license from the Department of Migrant Workers or any valid and signed resolution from the municipal council of Gen. Luna.
The two accused allegedly failed to deploy the complainants abroad after submitting passports, other documents, and payment of fees.
Florido said he posted on Sept. 14, 2022 on Facebook an offer from a local government counterpart in Korea represented by Lee Dee-Kyung to provide local farmers opportunity to work in Korea.
He said that the partnership is supported by a commitment signing at the municipal hall and attended by members of the Sangguniang Bayan.
Florido said that he did not promise to cover all the applicants' expenses and denied that he guaranteed the processing of their passport at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
He and Briones said the selection of successful participants is not within their authority and was handled exclusively by their government counterparts in Korea.
Florido said that the delay in their deployment was due to the moratorium imposed by the DMW imposed on Jan. 11, 2024.
He said that the seasonal farmer program is a valid program of their municipality and backed up by a resolution of the municipal council.
Florido’s lawyers said that although his cases are non-bailable, he may file a bail petition.
