OFWs file graft case against GMA

MANILA, Philippines - Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is accused of conspiring with former chief justice Renato Corona, five retired Supreme Court (SC) justices and two former commissioners of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) to deprive more than 2,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) of $609 million in back wages from US construction firms.

Named with Arroyo and Corona in the criminal complaint were retired Justices Antonio Nachura, Consuelo Santiago, Ma. Alicia Martinez, Minita Nazario, and Ruben Reyes; and former NLRC commissioners Vicente Veloso and Tito Genilo.

In a complaint filed before the Department of Justice, the more than 2,000 OFWs sought an investigation into the alleged involvement of Arroyo, Veloso and Genilo in the commission of multiple graft and corruption.

“We demand a full-blown investigation of the criminal acts of illegally withholding wages provided for in the NLRC decision,” the OFWs said

The NLRC had directed in December 2002 the former employer of the OFWs, Brown and Halliburton Group of Companies, to pay them $609 million in back wages. However, Arroyo ordered the reversal of the decision, the OFWs said.

Manuel Olidan, one of the complainants, said two years ago, they asked the SC to grant their petition for rehearing and reversal of a previous ruling granting a measly award to only 149 claimants.

“The complaint has been unacted upon until this time,” he said.

Some of his co-workers have denied receiving compensation from their former employer, he added.

The complainants said they were not paid appropriate wages when they worked as construction workers in various Middle East countries.

Olidan said the US firms paid other nationalities $22 per hour, while OFWs with the same job received only $2.50 per hour.

Initially, the OFWs won the case, but the US firms appealed the NLRC ruling before the Court of Appeals.

The CA reversed the decision and the OFWs elevated the case before the SC.

In late 2008, the SC upheld the CA ruling, with some modifications to grant compensation to only 149 out of the more than 2,300 claimants.