PHL exec in Kuwait relieved over alleged 'sexploitation' of Pinays

A Philippine official in Kuwait allegedly involved in the sexual exploitation of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) was relieved from his post amid an ongoing investigation. The official, who was not identified, refused to face media but said he was ready to undergo investigation to clear his name, according to a “News to Go” report on Wednesday morning. Labor Attache David Des Dicang of Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Al Khobar said the removal of the official from his post will give way to a non-biased investigation. Meanwhile, Consul General to Kuwait Atty. Raul Dado hopes the victims of the alleged sexual exploitation will present themselves to provide more information about the accusations. Bello's revelations The alleged sexual exploitation was bared by Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, chairman of the House committee on overseas workers' affairs, during a press briefing on Tuesday. These alleged cases of exploitation were uncovered while Bello's committee was investigating the reported "sex-for-flight" activities where overseas Pinays were allegedly offered repatriation by officials in exchange for sex. Bello named two of three officials involved in sexploitation, saying that they were from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Jordan and Kuwait. GMA News Online witheld their names on Tuesday while awaiting comments from them. On Wednesday, however, one of those tagged in the alleged sexploitation of workers defended himself over radio dzBB. Philippine assistant labor attache to Jordan Mario Antonio denied involvement in an alleged sex-for-flight mess, saying this could be a smear drive against him by illegal recruiters he crossed paths with. The surprised Antonio said he could be a target because he had defended the rights of OFWs. “Yan ay hindi makatotohanan. Yan ay siguro dala yan ng salita ng recruitment agency at trafficker sa pagtanggol natin ng mga OFW,” he said in an interview on dzBB radio. Antonio was linked to the supposed exploitation of distressed OFWs in the Philippine shelter in Amman, Jordan. In a separate interview on dzBB, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Carmelita Dimzon attested that Antonio was pro-worker. “Isa sa pinakamagaling na welfare officer ... Wala akong narinig tungkol sa kanya. Ang narinig ko lang na complaint sa kanya, siya masyadong maka-worker at pumapanig sa worker na kinagalit minsan ng employer,” she said. Malacañang had already ordered an investigation into the matter. Sexual trafficking On Tuesday, Bello said two Philippine officials are allegedly involved in sexual trafficking of OFWs while the third reportedly forces OFWs to do intimate acts with him. Bello requested Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario and Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz for the dismissal of the three along with their criminal prosecution.  Baldoz on Tuesday ordered an investigation into claims that alleged ‘sex for fly’ activities in Kuwait where distressed female migrant workers are lured to give sexual favors to embassy and labor officials at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) there to facilitate their immediate repatriation. Baldoz , who is in Geneva for the 102nd International Labor Conference, ordered the probe after one of the 46 distressed female OFWs  in Kuwait claimed that an embassy official asked for sexual favor in exchange for swift repatriation to the Philippines. Baldoz signed Administrative Order No. 239, Series of 2013 creating the investigating team composed of lawyers: Atty. Leah Fortuna of the Office of the Secretary as the Chairperson, Atty. Ophelia Almenario of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Atty. Rosemarie G. Duquez of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Disturbing On the other hand, the DFA said they find the allegations against the Philippine officials “disturbing.” "Sec. Del Rosario talked to Cong. Bello this afternoon and will meet with him tomorrow in order to complete the informaiton that we have and establish a way forward in terms of investigating our people,” DFA Spokesman Raul Hernandez told GMA News Online via text on Tuesday night. Hernandez added that “our core interest is to protect our OFWs in every instance.” - Andrei Medina, VVP, GMA News