DOLE mulls deporting OFW over 'malicious' materials vs. Duterte

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) considers sending back home an overseas Filipino worker in Taiwan for posting "nasty and malevolent materials" against President Rodrigo Duterte.

"We are constrained to act for the deportation of a Filipina working as [a] caregiver in Taiwan for the crime of cyber libel for [the] willful posting of nasty and malevolent materials against President Duterte on Facebook," the DOLE said is a statement.

Elanel Egot Ordidor, a Filipina caregiver employed in Yunlin County, reportedly posted materials that were "intended to cause hatred" amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Taiwan (POLO) has reportedly coordinated with her broker and employer on her possible deportation.

According to the statement, concerned authorities visited Ordidor on April 20 to inform her that her actions amounted to a crime that might lead to prosecution in Taiwan and the Philippines.

Ordidor was reportedly cooperative and promised to delete her videos against Duterte as well as to post a video of a public apology to the president and the government.

Hours after the visit, however, there were reportedly posts on the POLO Taichung' Facebook page from fake accounts which gave Ordidor support.

The agency said that Ordidor is reportedly using several social media accounts such as Lenale Elanel Egot, Mha Lan Dee, Linn Silawan, and Hampas Lupa.

She also allegedly "has a group organized to discredit and malign the President and destabilize the government."

DOLE said that the posting and sharing of the videos are punishable under cyber libel. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LBG, GMA News