DOJ reveals three more 'sex-for-flight' cases of OFWs, including Pinay rumored to have committed 'suicide'

The Department of Justice on Tuesday cited three more alleged "sex-for-flight" cases of female overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including one who was reported to have committed suicide but was allegedly raped by an embassy staff in Dubai.
 
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello revealed this to her in a closed door meeting on Monday.

These three new cases are on top of the three cases being investigated by the departments of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Labor and Employment (DOLE). 

Once the DFA and the DOLE have come out with their respective findings recommending criminal charges against certain individuals, the DOJ will conduct preliminary investigation. The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) was also tapped to assist in the probe.
 
Bello earlier claimed that three victims of sexual molestation in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Syria have come to him for help.

He alleged that the perpetrators of these acts are key officials posted in Filipino resource centers.
 
Quoting Bello, De Lima said that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is already investigating the sexual exploitation of victims whom she declined to name.
 
The first case was already resolved by the NBI, the DOJ said. The second was still pending investigation at the bureau.
 
“Yung pangalawa, naibestigahan din, pumunta dun sa bansa na iyon kung saan ang reklamo, it’s either an alleged rape or alleged sexual harassment involving another embassy official. So napuntahan at naimbestigihan pero wala pang report,” De Lima said.
 
The third case is still being probed by the NBI. “It’s a supposed incident of reported suicide, but there are indications that this may not be a case of suicide. I think it’s a recent case, baka daw hindi suicide kaya paiimbestigahan,” she said.
 
The OFW involved in the “suicide” case was allegedly about to be repatriated and was staying at a halfway house or Filipino shelter in Dubai. De Lima, however, declined to disclose further details so as not to jeopardize investigations by Bello’s office.
 
At the same time, Bello asked de Lima to help provide protection to the three victims of sex-related offenses who first surfaced.
 
“He wanted to find out what the DOJ can do or what is the role of the DOJ... I think meron na ring two or three cases na ongoing na ung investigation but I cannot be disclosing the identity yet of the victims and I was informed by Rep. Bello that most of these victims are hesitant na mag come-out at share their ordeal and share to the public what happened to them. In fact, isa yan sa dinulog ni Rep. Bello, because he noticed some of them were hesitant for fear of reprisals,” she said.

Assistant labor attache to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villafuerte, one of those tagged in the alleged sexual exploitation of OFWs, earlier said he was willing to participate in the investigation on the issue.

In a report of radio dzBB's Rodil Vega last week, DOLE spokesman Nicon Fameronag said the DOLE will have Villafuerte air his side before deciding whether or not to present him to the media.

DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Villafuerte has been assured of due process.

"Kailangan thorough ang investigation. We have to satisfy requirement ng due process," she added.

Villafuerte had been linked by at least three OFWs to the alleged sexploitation mess. He has denied the allegations.

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.
Two of the victims have accused Villafuerte of sexually molesting them.

Last week, Villafuerte granted an interview to Saudi-based news site Arab News where he said he is ready to face the charges against him.

"I have rendered my duties in a proper manner and believe that there are some people who are willing to come forward to bring out the truth,” he said, adding that he was concerned about the effect of the accusations on his family. - VVP, GMA News