MANILA: President Aquino wants criminal charges filed against any official or employee of the embassies or consulates found guilty of engaging in the sex-for-flight scheme victimizing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a text message yesterday that Aquino instructed Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to coordinate with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Executive Secretary should the investigation on the sex-for-repatriation allegation involving labour officials in the Middle East yield a basis for filing criminal charges.
The President met with Baldoz Tuesday afternoon after she came from missions abroad.
Valte said Baldoz briefed Aquino on the progress of the sex-for-repatriation investigation and the measures that the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) had taken in the wake of these allegations.
Baldoz assured Aquino that “no one would be spared” if the investigation would show any wrongdoing on the part of the embassy or labour or consulate officials or employees.
Earlier, Aquino said he might ask the National Bureau of Investigation to step in if the probe of the foreign affairs and labour departments would not be satisfactory.
He said this when asked if he was open to the creation of a special body to look into the accusations against foreign affairs and labour officials to ensure there would be no whitewash.
Baldoz also informed Aquino that 13 female labour attachés are set to be deployed to various countries in the Middle East to augment the officers of the Philippine Overseas Labour Offices (POLO) in the region.
The DOLE will instal Foreign Labour Operations Information System in all 37 POLOs, with the Middle East POLO as priority.
The system will record all POLO transactions and store data to be accessible to DOLE, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Baldoz also issued an administrative order prohibiting distressed OFWs from engaging in any work while under the custody of the Migrant Workers and other Overseas Filipino Resource Centre.
Baldoz said the employment ban is part of government efforts to strengthen the operations of the POLO and address the sex-for-repatriation allegation involving labour officers in the Middle East.
The order shall be effective immediately and includes employment in the households of Philippine embassy and POLO officers and staff and allows only the designated female centre supervisor to reside at the resource centre.
Baldoz also required all those requesting repatriation tickets from employers, recruitment agencies, POEA, OWWA and other sources to seek the approval of the head of POLO.
“The labour attaché shall designate an organic staff as head of the repatriation team who shall accompany to the airport all wards for repatriation,” Baldoz noted.
The Philippine star
