DOLE's Bello, Paras clash during flag ceremony over 'cobra' quip

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III clashed with one of his undersecretaries during the department's flag-raising ceremony earlier this week.

Labor Undersecretary Jing Paras confirmed the incident, saying it started when Bello mentioned that there was a "cobra" and "traitor" within the department during his speech.

"Hindi naman po natin maipagkakaila dahil that was a public thing, that was after na ng flag ceremony," Paras said in an interview in Dobol B sa News TV, adding that he believed Bello was alluding to him.

"Nabigla na lang ako na nagsabi siya na, 'Mayroon ditong cobra. Ito na naman, ang cobra umaarangkada na naman, 'yung snake, traydor, ahas. Tinitira na naman ako'," he said.

According to Paras, Bello said that the "cobra" was the same person who presented an affidavit to Malacañang regarding an alleged corruption activity involving some DOLE officials and recruitment agencies.

"Sinabi niya, 'Hindi ba, Usec. Paras?' sa microphone. Tumayo ako," Paras said.

Paras said he tried to explain to Bello that he just accompanied the complainant to the Palace because it was the President's instruction.

"Nagalit kasi si Secretary sa akin kasi bakit ko daw hindi binanggit sa kaniya bago ako nagpunta kay Presidente? Pero sidekick niya 'yun eh. Talagang malapit sa kaniya yung Usec na 'yun. I will be reneging on my duty," Paras said.

He, however, denied the allegation that he is pinning Bello down with fresh accusations of excessive travel and other irregularities.

"Wala akong kinalaman. Sana po kung mayroon mang galit siya sa akin na pinagbintangan niya ako, sana kinausap niya ako," Paras said.

Earlier this month, a private citizen from Quezon City who identified himself as Adolfo Paglinawan filed eight counts of graft, usurpation and treason complaint against Bello and two others.

The undersecretary said he does not know Paglinawan personally and that he did not divulge any information to the complainant.

He said that he is ready to leave his post in the department if it would be the best action to take. He also said he still respects Bello even after their altercation.

"Wala po akong masamang tinapay sa kaniya. I respect him and I consider him still as my boss and my friend," he said.

In a separate interview, Bello denied mentioning Paras' name when he delivered his speech during the flag ceremony.

"Di ko siya ginanun. Tanong niyo sa mga tao doon, siya ang unang nagsalita. Ako nagkukwento ako ng affidavit na finile against me—affidavit na ginawa nila na pinirmahanwithout reading... Dahil doon natanggal 'yung undersecretary ko," Bello said, referring to the same affidavit that was previously filed by a witness against him and other DOLE officials.

Bello claimed that the said witness talked to him and revealed that she just simply signed the affidavit prepared by Paras without reading it.

Further, the Secretary refuted the charges that were recently filed with the Ombudsman against him.

"Lahat ng travel ko with presidential authority at saka alam mo naman ang trabaho ng secretary of labor, to take care of the interest of the OFW, paano ko malalaman ang kalagayan nila kung hindi ako pupunta doon?" Bello said.

As for the allegation on treason, Bello underscored that he never spoke with Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Joma Sison without the President's knowledge.

"I never go out of the country to talk to them without his authorization. It is always upon his instruction," he said.

Bello also denied accusations that he sexually harassed one of his female administrative staff members. —KBK, GMA News