Finally, raided tutorial center reopened
LINGAYEN– The online English-as-second-language (ESL) teachers of Kamehachi Corporation were elated over the reopening of their workplace that was raided by law enforcers last March on false charges.
Last October 3, the center located along Avenida St., Lingayen formally resumed its operations after a month of reorganizing.
One of the tutors, Teacher Kris, expressed her happiness and relief over the resumption of her work even as she recalled the events in the night of March 17 when the operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)- National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) forayed into their three-storey building.
“I was having my lesson with a seven-year-old girl… lahat kami nagtuturo nung dumating sila,” she recalled and said that despite the activity, the operatives insisted the place was a cyber sex den.
Teacher Kris, also a mother, was emotional when she recalled how afraid she was especially for her kids then because the media reported the claim of the police that the teachers were prostitutes, not teachers.
Despite the trauma and shock she suffered, Teacher Kris is looking forward to teaching more students.
Another tutor, Teacher Annabelle, said the challenge they faced only equipped them to be better individuals.
“We’ve never done anything wrong,” she said and that their integrity is intact.
Tutors conduct lessons for overseas foreign students via internet
Last June 4, 2014, the prosecutor general at the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the anti-trafficking in persons case filed against the owners of the tutorial center for “insufficient evidence.”
Meanwhile, Cong. Leopoldo Bataoil of the second district, who was present at the formal reopening, congratulated the owners and teachers of the online tutorial center.
“I see this (business) as a very good opportunity for the continuing development of our country,” he said and encouraged the owners to expand their business even as he also assured the teachers, “I will be with you all the way in your career development.”
Provincial information officer Orpheus Velasco, who represented Gov. Amado Espino Jr. in the event, likewise congratulated the owners and tutors and cited the center for promoting the beauty and culture of Pangasinan to other nationalities.
Provincial employment and services officer Alex Ferrer said he never believed the accusations leveled against the school and the teachers from day one.
Erlinda Tandoc, the president of the Kamehachi Corp., remarked, “God knows what is right.”
The center retrieved their 99 desktop computers, five laptops, seven servers, one car (Toyota sedan), one Van (Toyota Grandia), cash (P694,520; Y20,000; $700), cameras, passport, and other documents.
Tandoc, a member of the People Management Association of the Philippines also disclosed that they are planning to file counter charges against CIDG.
The center, founded in Sept. 8, 2011, has 70 ESL teachers teaching young and adult students from Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, Russia, Brazil, China, Vietnam, Peru, and Spain. (Johanne R. Macob/PNA)
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