KOROR (Palau Horizon) — Suspected illegal recruiter Ramon Agana was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
However, after the Supreme Court Trial Division declared Agana not guilty, the Bureau of Immigration ordered Agana to leave Palau within 10 days for a separate immigration rules violation.
Immigration Officer Joe Giramur said the notice was issued to Agana on Wednesday. Agana will have to leave the country by June 28.
Giramur said Agana will be arrested and charged for overstaying if he fails to comply with the notice.
The immigration officer said the court decision does not allow Agana to continue staying in Palau.
Giramur said Agana is also prohibited from working in the country.
According to immigration regulations, a foreigner’s visa or a working permit can be revoked if there are violations in the labor laws, Giramur said.
He said Agana violated immigration laws by admitting in court that he worked for the company of Jackson Ngiraingas when his working permit was for another company, Lucky Gem.
Giramur added that Agana violated another labor law when he worked for Aflac while awaiting court proceeding.
Agana was acquitted on charges that he allegedly sold return airline tickets of Filipino jobseekers.
Agana was reportedly involved in the recent migration of several Filipinos who were promised jobs in Palau.
Agana, in an interview, denied that he was involved in illegal recruitment activities and said that he was “a plain employee.”
He said the court decision proves he is innocent.
Agana said he is considering filing charges against those who put him on the list of suspected illegal recruiters.
He blamed Philippine Consul General Julius Torres for implicating him in alleged illegal recruitment activities.
