'Sex for repat' scheme sa Middle East, pinaiimbestigahan ng DOLE; DFA, nabahala

Iniutos ni Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz nitong Martes na imbestigahan ang umano'y pagsasamantala ng ilang opisyal ng embahada ng Pilipinas sa Kuwait sa mga nagigipit na Pinay overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) na nagnanais makauwi na sa bansa. Samantala, sa isang text message sa GMA News Online, sinabi ni Raul Hernandez, tagapagsalita ng  Department of Foreign Affairs, na nabahala ang kagawaran sa nasabing alegasyon ng sexual exploitation sa mga OFW. Ayon kay Hernandez, nakipag-ugnayan na si DFA Sec. Albert del Rosario kay Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello, na nagsiwalat ng nagaganap umanong pang-aabuso sa mga Pinay OFW sa Kuwait. "Our core interest is to protect our OFWs in every instance. We are disturbed by the news reports that we are receiving regarding the sex-related offenses allegedly committed by embassy personnel," anang opisyal. "Sec. del Rosario talked to Cong. Bello this afternoon and will meet with him tomorrow in order to complete the information that we have and establish a way forward in terms of investigation our people," dagdag pa ni Hernandez. Basahin: Lawmaker bares alleged 'sexploitation' of distressed OFWs by PHL officials Iniutos naman ni Baldoz na alamin ang katotohanan sa alegasyon na may opisyal ng embahada ng Pilipinas at Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), ang humihingi ng "sexual favor" sa mga Pinay OFW  kapalit ng mabilis na pagpapauwi sa kanila sa bansa. "I am resolved to get into the bottom of any accusation of wrongdoing against our people to uphold their credibility and integrity, whether or not the allegations are malicious or with basis," nakasaad sa ipinalabas na pahayag ni  Baldoz, kasalukuyang dumadalo sa 102nd International Labor Conference sa Geneva. "We take this kind of allegations very seriously," aniya. “We believe that for us to be able to protect the rights and welfare of every Filipino worker here and abroad, it is a must that we keep ourselves clean; that we keep the Department graft- and corruption-free.” Nilagdaan ni Baldoz ang Administrative Order No. 239, Series of 2013 na bumubuo sa investigating team na kinabibilangan nina Atty. Leah Fortuna, Office of the Secretary as the Chairperson; Atty. Ophelia Almenario, ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), at Atty. Rosemarie G. Duquez, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Inatasan ang naturang grupo na mangalap ng kaukulang detalye at impormasyon tungkol sa nasabing alegasyon ng "sex for repatriation." Ayon kay Baldoz, kapag napatunayang totoo ang alegasyon, tutulong ang investigating team sa pagsasampa ng kaso laban sa mga sangkot na indibidwal. “The DOLE does not condone any inappropriate act of any of its official and personnel, most especially if it involves the performance of their official duties. Integrity and sincerity in public service are among the core values that we in the DOLE have sworn to uphold and abide by in everything we do,” pagtiyak ng kalihim. - FRJ, GMA News