By Junex Doronio

MANILA — More than 200 Filipino job seekers for Italy were allegedly defrauded of as much as €5,000 (P301,447.21) each by a Milan-based immigration consulting firm, Alpha Assistenza SRL.

This was revealed by the Consulate General of the Philippines in Milan as he reminded Filipinos seeking employment in Italy to be vigilant against fraudulent immigration and recruitment schemes.

Consul General Elmer Cato said cases of aggravated fraud are expected to be filed against Alpha Assistenza by the Italian lawyer hired by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to represent 100 complainants based in Italy.

They reportedly transacted with the agency on behalf of their families in the Philippines.

Apparently, the “scammers” had a field day after the announcement of decreto flussi program of the Italian government that allows the hiring of as many as 452,000 foreign workers in the next three years.

Cato said the consulate is now monitoring other individuals and agencies involved in “predatory practices” that take advantage of the vulnerabilities of Filipinos seeking alternative ways of bringing their families to Italy.

He also disclosed that certain individuals and agencies required a €500 reservation fee as soon as the decreto flussi program was announced.

Others were also reported to have charged as much as €5,000 to process work visa applications.

“The Consulate and the Migrant Workers Office of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) remind (our) kababayan of the need to exercise caution and vigilance to avoid being victimized by those who are expected to take advantage of the decreto flussi program by charging exorbitant fees to secure jobs for their relatives in the Philippines,” the Consulate said in its latest advisory.

It stressed: “While the Philippines is among 30 countries covered by the decreto flussi program, there is no assurance that applications for work visas will be approved.”

(AI/MNM)

STREAKING Italy made short work of Slovenia, 25-13, 25-22, 25-17, to catch the leaders in Week 3 of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) men’s tournament Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Riding big wins over Brazil and Canada, the Italians sustained their drive and rolled past the Slovenians with little to no resistance to stay unblemished in the VNL deciding preliminary leg here.

Italy, with Yuri Romano again leading the onslaught, bumped off the first-game winner Poland for third place in the tight standings just behind Japan and the United States.

The world No. 3 team improved to an 8-3 won-lost record with 23 set points to overtake Poland, which scored a 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21 win over powerhouse Brazil for an 8-2 card but with only 19 points.

Romano, the 6-foot-6 opposite spiker, drained 16 points on 11 attacks, three service aces, and two blocks as Italy finished off the world No. 8 Slovenia in only one hour and 20 minutes.

“It’s a very good game and a very good performance for us. We won three matches so far and we want to win another one,” said Romano as Italy braces for a gigantic collision with unbeaten Japan on Saturday. “It will be the most difficult match for us, especially against Japan, who have won all their matches so far.”

Alessandro Michieletto and Daniele Lavia produced 13 points apiece to provide coverage for Romano as team captain Simone Giannelli had 18 sets for Italy, which slammed the door down on the usually potent Slovenian offense.

Italy silenced Slovenia with a 14-6 blocking advantage while converting six aces, three of which came from Romano alone, to score two blowout sets save for a closer second frame, 25-22.

Klemen Cebulj carded 16 points while Tine Urnaut put up 13 for Slovenia and even stood its ground against world No. 1 Poland before claiming the scalp of China in the previous days.

The huge loss pulled Slovenia to 7-4 for a tie at sixth to seventh place with first-game loser Brazil entering the homestretch of the VNL Philippine leg that will determine the Top 8 teams advancing to the finals on July 19 to 24 in Poland. (ai/mtvn)

Italy fended off a gritty challenge from Canada, 25-14, 23-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-9, to stay within striking distance of the pace-setters—including Brazil—in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) men’s tournament Week 3 Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The world No. 4 Italians recovered from a collapse in the fourth set to scrape past the hard-fighting Canadians and stand side-by-side with rival Brazil in the critical final leg of the 16-team VNL gearing up for the 8-team finals in Poland from July 19 to 24.

Long-time Olympic foes Italy and Brazil, which swept the Netherlands earlier with a 25-21, 25-15, 25-20 win, are now tied at a 7-3 won-lost record but the latter holds a slight set points advantage at 22-20.

Italy scored a 23-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-21 stunner on Brazil in the opener of the Philippine leg on Tuesday but found itself on the edge of the cliff against Canada this time around.

Alessandro Michieletto showed the way with 18 points on 14 hits, three blocks, and an ace while Gianluca Galassi and Yuri Romano carded 17 points apiece to rescue the Italians from a near upset.

Roberto Russo and Daniele Lavia added 15 and 10 points, respectively, for Italy, which raced to a 2-1 lead sparked by an easy 25-14 win in the opening set.

On the verge of a four-set triumph, Italy took a 23-21 cushion on a Galassi kill before being blanked the rest of the way to allow a deciding fifth set.

Michieletto then took over from then, anchoring Italy’s 4-0 start in the rubber en route to the pesky win.

Italy has Slovenia next today as world No. 16 Canada, led by Ryan Joseph Sclater’s 22 points, slid to 2-8 at the 13th spot. Canada will face world No.1 Poland on Saturday. (ai/mnm)