'Sex-for-flight' scandal prompts DOLE to deploy female attaches to Middle East

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has ordered the deployment of 14 new labor attaches to the Middle East, with 13 of these new attaches female. The deployment was a response to the reported ‘sex-for-flight’ cases where male labor officers compelled distressed female overseas Filipino workers (OFW) into providing sexual favors in exchange for swift repatriation. Of the newly assigned labor attaches, three, including Labor Attache Linda Herrera, sister-in-law of former Sen. Boy F. Herrera, were to be sent to Jordan; two, to Kuwait; and nine, to Saudi Arabia. Baldoz issued the deployment order as she also sent an investigating team from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to Middle East countries Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan where there were a high numbers of distressed female OFWs "The scope and coverage of the team has been expanded even before Rep. Walden Bello had revealed, over the weekend, more tales of sexual exploitation against OFWs in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The team's specific orders are to include all officers and personnel in Kuwait, Jordan, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specifically in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Al-Khobar which Rep. Bello mentioned in his interview with the media on Saturday," said Baldoz. Rep. Bello had earlier bared alleged sex-for-fly incidents in Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. There is also an investigating panel which is headed by Assistant Secretary Gloria Tango, and is composed of representatives from the DOLE's Legal Service, and the DOLE Organic Employees Association. Baldoz said the panel will evaluate all the documents, statements, and evidence that the investigating team may gather and submit for purposes of filing the appropriate charges. The panel was given until the end of July to resolve the “sex-for-flight” cases. “The DOLE will be very transparent in the course of the investigation and will regularly inform the public on its status through the media,” Baldoz assured. Meanwhile, Baldoz said assistant labor attache Villafuerte had arrived last Friday following his recall order. The labor official will be given copies of the complainants' affidavits for him to comment on. "Villafuerte has expressed desire to face the investigation team first before he makes himself available to the media." Baldoz said. — DVM, GMA News