MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government is waiting for the conviction of an American national who illegally recruited 18 Filipino workers to the US in 2009, following his detention last year, Vice President Jejomar Binay said.According to Binay, US recruiter, Mike Lombardi had recently pleaded guilty to charges of visa fraud and is now in detention. He will be sentenced on August 6, 2012.
- Lombardi, head of US Opportunities based in Florida, recruited 18 Filipino workers who had to pay P 250,000 to P 350,000 each for a working (H2B) visa to the United States in 2009.
- They were diverted to Mississippi and Louisiana where they endured inhuman conditions such as sleeping in trailers without water and electricity; raking and bailing pine leaves in winter; and being forced to plant 1,800 pine tree seedlings a day.
- They were paid sub-human rate such as $40.00 a week, instead of the United States Department of Labour’s federal minimum wage (for non-exempt workers) of $7.25 per hour, equivalent to P 2,900 a day of eight-hour work, or P 17,400 a week for six-days of work.
The workers were identified as Rodolfo Andrade, Ferdinand Antigo, Dennis Belda, Peter Cabusao, Jhoanne Davocol, Eduardo Deytiquez, Lheniehl Florida, Jimmy Hinayo, Theodore Jastillana III, Orlando Lavarnez, Enrico Edmundo Lising, Michael Angelo Maghirang, Jason Magundayao, Wilfredo Mislang, Imie Ramos, Henry Sejera, Regie Tesoro, and Roberto Verzo Jr.They sought the help of Philippine-based recruiter, Elizabeth Malabanan of ZDrive (in Laguna, southern Luzon, who procssd their papers, but she advised them to work instead in hotels. Because the workers’ working visas were not valid, they accepted work and low wages.
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