MANILA, Philippines — A warrant of arrest has been issued against a Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) officer for her alleged involvement in large-scale illegal recruitment.
Judge Ronald August Tan of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 297 issued the order against Reyca Janisa Palpallatoc, citing violations of Republic Act 8042, also known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act, as amended by Republic Act 10022.
Given the severity of the offense, the court recommended no bail for Palpallatoc, emphasizing the seriousness of the charges. Large-scale illegal recruitment, defined as involving three or more victims, is a non-bailable offense under Philippine law, punishable by life imprisonment and a fine of up to P2,000,000.
Palpallatoc is accused of victimizing multiple individuals through unlawful recruitment schemes.
Her legal troubles are compounded by earlier administrative charges filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, where she was accused of disgraceful and immoral conduct as well as behavior prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The administrative complaints stem from allegations by the wife of a Philippine Marine personnel, who claimed that Palpallatoc engaged in an illicit romantic and sexual relationship with her husband, violating ethical standards for government employees.
Additionally, Palpallatoc faces another criminal charge in Taguig City, filed a few months ago, which underscores a pattern of alleged misconduct. The allegations reflect a broader set of issues that could lead to penalties such as dismissal from service, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from public office, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.
The BFP has yet to release a formal statement on the matter. Authorities are encouraging other potential victims to come forward to strengthen the case against Palpallatoc.
The Manila Times is reaching out to Palpallatoc or her counsel for comment.
