Philippines – An alleged illegal recruiter who lured Filipinos with the promise of work in New Zealand is now behind bars in Iloilo City, facing 13 criminal cases for Syndicated Illegal Recruitment and Estafa.
According to an update from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Migrant Workers Protection Bureau, shared through its official AIRTIP channel (facebook.com/dmwairtip), Julie Pearl Robejes was arrested after complaints piled up from jobseekers who paid steep fees but never got the jobs she promised.
How the Scheme Worked
Robejes reportedly ran Paragon Visa Consultancy and began recruiting applicants for New Zealand jobs in 2025. She and her staff promised employment across various trades and professions, then collected hefty processing fees.
- Fees ranged from ₱100,000 to ₱300,000 per applicant
- Those who couldn’t pay were referred to loan agents to cover recruitment costs
The promises fell apart once victims reached New Zealand. Some found no jobs waiting at all. Others were placed in positions completely different from what they had been told.
Complainants later learned that authorities in New Zealand had raided Robejes’ Auckland residence for operating without the required recruitment license. Some victims flew home to the Philippines, while others stayed on and took temporary work to survive.
The Cases and the Arrest
The DMW stepped in to help affected workers file and pursue their complaints. In total, 13 cases were lodged against Robejes and her employees:
- 7 cases through DMW Regional Office VI
- 6 cases through the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau
On March 23, 2026, the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Iloilo City issued a warrant of arrest against Robejes and two co-accused under Criminal Case No. 26-96939, People of the Philippines vs. Robejes, et al.
Officers from La Paz Police Station 2 arrested her around 9 p.m. on August 13, 2026. She was booked and held at the station following her capture.
Days later, on August 16, Robejes was rushed to St. Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo City after suffering a persistent stomach ache and a medical emergency. She is currently detained at the PS2 Female Custodial Facility while awaiting the turnover of her case to the court.
Call for Other Victims
The DMW is urging anyone else who fell victim to Robejes to come forward. Affected workers can seek free legal help through the DMW AIRTIP page at facebook.com/dmwairtip, report directly to the DMW, or file a complaint at the nearest police station.