Silvestre Bello may be charged over ECOP deal

MANILA, Philippines — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III may again face charges of graft and corruption, this time for forging a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP).

Labor coalition Nagkaisa yesterday announced its intention to file charges against Bello before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“The secretary of labor is wrong to enter into a MOA with ECOP in exchange for a protracted three-year period to regularize workers and suspending labor inspection along the way. The law can’t be suspended by a MOA,” Nagkaisa said in a statement.

Nagkaisa said Bello could be held liable under the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act by entering into an MOA with employers.

Entering into any contract or transaction manifestly and grossly disadvantageous, whether the public officer profited or will profit, is considered an act of corruption under the law, Nagkaisa said.

The group said Bello also committed dereliction of his duties.

Workers further complained Bello entered into the agreement with employers without consulting them and they only learned of it from news reports.