2 OFW 'victims' to testify in sex scheme probe

MANILA, Philippines - Two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will testify in the investigation on the alleged sex exploitation and prostitution rings allegedly ran by labor officials in the Middle East.

 

The distressed OFW sex victim, who surfaced on Thursday, identified as "Michelle," said she is ready to testify not only to get justice but also to help prevent other OFWs from falling victim to the sexual abuses by erring officials.

 

"Opo, (tetestigo ako) para magbago naman ang sistema nila. Ayaw po namin na may mabiktima uli," she said in a radio interview.

 

On Thursday, Michelle revealed that she received "indecent proposals" from her labor officers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in exchange for the speedy process for her repatriation.

 

"[G]usto lamang namin ng tulong, handa naman po kaming tumestigo po. Gusto lamang ng proteksyon at makabalik ng ibang bansa nang wala pong alinlangan," she said.

 

Michelle initially feared for backlash from labor officials if ever she files a formal complaint.

 

Another OFW, identified as "Analisa," has also surfaced and claimed that an employee of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Saudi Arabia was involved in an alleged attempt to prostitute her in exchange for a ticket back home.

 

"[N]akahanda naman po ako (magbigay ng testimonya) basta talagang mabibigyan kami ng hustisya sa mga ginawa sa amin," she said in another radio interview.

 

The two alleged victims surfaced after Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello accused three labor officials in the Middle East for allegedly being involved in the "sex-for-fly" scheme.

 

Bello accused Mario Antonio, assistant labor attaché in Amman, Jordan, of prostituting female OFWs who have problems with their work and employers. He also tagged  a certain Kim from Damascus, Syria and a Blas Marquez from the POLO in Kuwait.

 

Antonio faced the public on Thursday and denied the allegations. Related story: Labor officer in 'sex-for-fly' scandal submits to probe

 

"Ako ay nakahandang sagutin ang mga katanungan sa tamang venue at panahon upang lumabas ang katotohanan at mapatunayan ang aking kawalang-sala. I'm submitting myself to full investigation," Antonio said at a televised press briefing on Thursday.

 

"Bigyan naman po ako ng pagkakataong linisin ang aking pangalan. Hinihingi ko rin na huwag niyo akong agad husgahan," he added.

 

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have launched separate investigations into the issue and have called on victims to come out and file complaints before the authorities.

 

DOLE Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz said she is "resolved" to get into the bottom of the issue whether or not the allegations are malicious or with basis.

 

“We take this kind of allegations very seriously,” she said, adding that measures to deal with allegations of wrongdoing are well established in the DOLE.

 

Malacañang had said it would not tolerate the alleged “sex-for-repatriation” scam in the Middle East especially if the practice is proven to be true.

 

“Let’s let DFA establish the facts first and if these reports are true, then, certainly, we will not tolerate that,” said Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.

 

Senators Loren Legarda and Pia Cayetano, along with the Philippine Commission on Women, have condemned the alleged sex scheme.

 

Acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada, for his part, said he will propose a P1 budget for the DFA and DOLE if they fail to resolve with dispatch the reported scandal.

 

Related story: 'P1 budget for DFA, DOLE if sex scheme unresolved'