OFWs release affidavits on 'sex-for-flight' scandal, name molesting envoy

At least three alleged victims of the "sex-for-flight" scandal have released their sworn statements on the supposed sexual exploitation that occurred in Manila’s Middle East diplomatic posts.

Interviewed by Ivan Mayrina at GMA News' "24 Oras", two victims have accused Antonio Villafuerte, assistant labor attaché in the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh, of sexually molesting them.

Lita, not her real name, said the labor attaché asked her sexually-loaded questions when she sought help from the embassy official after her employer had molested her.

"Akala ko po matino 'yung pagtatanong niya sa akin... Pero hindi po, mga pambabastos po ang naririnig ko sa kanya. Saan raw ako tinira ng amo ko, sa harap o sa likod, kung malaki daw po 'yung sa employer ko, 'kung masarap daw po makipagtalik," she said in the TV report.

Another victim, Ella, also not her real name, said Villafuerte once pulled her into a comfort room and molested her.

"Pagpasok ko sa CR sumunod siya. Nung sumunod siya, bigla niya ako hinila sa isang sulok papuntang CR tapos hinalikan niya ako na nakalabas po dila niya," Ella recounted.

"Tapos sabay hinawakan niya ang maselang parte ko sa taas. Sabi ko, 'Huwag po, huwag po gan'yan.' Sabi niya, 'Sige na.' Tapos nililihis niya ung abaya ko pataas na ganun."

Villafuerte has said he would answer the accusations at the proper venue.

Meanwhile, the third victim said she was asked for a "one-night stand" in exchange for a flight back to the Philippines from Riyadh.

"May tumawag sa akin na nagngangalang Mohammed, Pinoy din. Nag-alok siya sa akin ng part time job. Tinanong ko kung anong trabaho, sabi niya huwag ko na raw itanong, simple lang naman ang gagawin. One-night stand for my ticket kung gusto ko talagang umuwi ng maaga," the OFW named “Rina” said.

Three or four more

Akbayan party-list representative and chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers' Affairs Walden Bello said there are three or four more OFWs who have reported "sexploitation" and "sex-for-fly" schemes.

Bello in Jam Sisante's report in "24 Oras" said they had yet to identify from which Middle Eastern countries the victims came from.



He said that if the labor and foreign affairs departments failed to issue a criminal complaint, they would assist the victims in filing such complaint.

"Ang understanding ko, hindi lang sila satisfied sa disciplinary actions, kundi in terms of criminal complaints. Kasi sinabi na nga nila na ayaw nilang mangyari 'yung nangyare sa kanila sa ibang mga OFW," Bello said.

The Labor department has sent their fact-finding team to Riyadh, Kuwait and Jordan to gather more evidence.

Labor undersecretary Rebecca Chato urged the other victims to reach them through their number 527-3000 local 705.

"Kapag may kailangang assistance, like to do a statement or may documents na kailangang i-submit, we'll send our team to help them," Chato said. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/DVM, GMA News