GENEVA, Switzerland – Filipinos in Canton Vaud and nearby areas are angry over the money they lost through a Pinoy remittance firm in Geneva.

The Filipino Community in Canton Geneva & Vaud (Filcom Gevd) have centered their complaints against the “Pearl of the Orient” money remittance firm, which, they said, has defrauded overseas Filipino workers since it opened office in Geneva in 2009.

Filcom Gevd said Pearl of the Orient was set up by a certain Ernesto “Tatie” Arellano Jr., who reportedly entices OFWs through SMS by offering a higher money exchange rate for their remittances. However, the remittances were never made.

Filcom Gevd said the scam continues because many victims are undocumented Filipinos (without legal work permits or identity papers) who hesitate to file complaints before authorities.

“Many of their clients are undocumented OFWs, and some are also their friends who chose not to make a complaint,” said Raymund-Michael Flores, founder of Filcom Gevd.

OFW victim

In a statement dated August 11, 2010 by “Erica” of Florissant, Geneva, she claimed that she sent 13,500 Swiss Francs last October 22, 2009 through the Pearl of the Orient.

Erica said only P20,000 was forwarded to her account 3 months after she sent the money.

“I thought of cancelling my transaction (but) they keep on promising that it will be returned in no time,” said Erica. The group forwarded Erica’s letter to ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

Filcom Gevd claimed Arellano has not only victimized OFWs in Switzerland, but also in the Philippines.

The group likewise sent the blogspot link http://barrioginebra.blogspot.com/ to ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau that details the alleged scams committed by Arellano before he moved to Switzerland.

According to the blog, among those victimized was the Tingog Choir of Iloilo, who was reportedly defrauded of US$3,180 that the members gave for travel insurance.

The blog said in 2007, Arellano reportedly invited the choir to do a European Tour that would include concerts in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. The tour never happened.

The blog also claimed that Arellano also used other entities like the “Geneva for Humanity” in Switzerland and the “Institute of Development and Strategic Studies” in the Philippines to entice victims to avail of his schemes.

“It is estimated that these thousands of Swiss francs swindled by Tatie Arellano would amount to millions of pesos,” the blog said.

Consulate warning

Furthermore, the blog claimed that Arellano even used the names of the Philippine Mission in Geneva and that of Consul General Jesus S. Domingo in enticing the choir to come to Switzerland.

On July 20, 2010, Domingo issued a warning to OFWs in Geneva concerning complaints over remittances, real estates, balikbayan boxes and other services.
 
Domingo acknowledged in his official warning that the Consulate already received several complaints over these concerns.

He urged the victims to issue sworn affidavits before the Consulate and reminded Filipinos in the area to always ask for, and keep receipts, in all money transactions that they make.

Domingo asked for an urgent meeting with the Filipino community in Geneva and Vaud this Thursday (Aug. 19) to thresh out the “OFW business problems”.

Bad image

Flores, meanwhile, said the scams are giving a bad image to the estimated 10,000 Filipinos, especially those living in Geneva, Vaud and nearby areas.

“If we Filipinos don’t give good business, wala na magtitiwala sa business natin,” said Flores, who is a Filipino-Swiss UN staff member. He also appealed to other victims to file complaints before the Consulate in Geneva or to get in touch with FILCOM GEVD (email: filcom.gevd@gmail.com).