‘Silvestre Bello still enjoys Duterte’s trust’

MANILA, Philippines — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III continues to enjoy the trust of President Duterte despite claims of irregularities in his department, Malacañang said yesterday.

Bello and former Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) undersecretary Dominador Say have been accused of conspiring to commit administrative and criminal offenses and extorting money from manpower agencies.

Monalie Dizon, secretary-general of advocacy group Kilusang Pagbabago National Movement for Change, has claimed that the irregularities happened after Bello issued an administrative order recalling the authority of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to issue and renew licenses of recruitment agencies.

Dizon also claimed that the owner of recruitment agency Azzizzah International Manpower Services Inc. had given Say about P6.8 million to reverse DOLE’s decision to revoke the company’s license.

She has also accused Bello of ordering the withdrawal of P5 million supposedly to help typhoon victims in Isabela but the money allegedly went to a labor official assigned in the province. 

Dizon has filed a complaint against Bello and Say before the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). Duterte fired Say last April over corruption allegations. 

“That’s up to them (PACC),” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said, when asked to comment on PACC’s plan to investigate Bello.

“(Bello) still has the trust and confidence of the President,” added Roque. 

Bello, who has known Duterte since law school, has denied involvement in any wrongdoing and expressed readiness to step down if the allegations against him are proven true. 

The labor chief suspects that the accusations against him may be part of an attempt to remove him from his post or to derail his bid to become the next ombudsman. – With Mayen Jaymalin