After 'sex-for-flight' scandal, female officers deployed to Middle East

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has deployed female officers in the Middle East after allegations of male labor officials sexually exploiting distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) surfaced last month.

DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz signed the deployment order for 14 officials, 13 of whom are female, including Labor Attaché Linda Herrera, sister-in-law of former Senator Boy Herrera.

Of the newly assigned labor officials, three will be sent to Jordan; two to Kuwait; and nine to Saudi Arabia.

Baldoz has also expanded the scope and coverage of the investigation team that will gather facts and information on the sex abuse allegations.

“The scope and coverage of the team has been expanded even before (Akbayan Party-list) Rep. Walden Bello had revealed over the weekend more tales of sexual exploitation against OFWs in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia," said Baldoz.

Late last month, Bello bared that some labor officials in the Middle East were involved in sexually exploiting and prostituting distressed OFWs in exchange for repatriation.

A number of OFWs have surfaced confirming the allegations, but others have also defended the officials involved in the controversy, particularly Riyadh assistant labor officer Antonio Villafuerte.

Baldoz assured that the DOLE will be very transparent in the investigation and will regularly inform the public on its status.

The DOLE chief also created a panel that will hear cases of the alleged scandal. She said it is initially given until the end of July to resolve the cases.

The panel will evaluate all the documents, statements, and evidence that the investigating team may gather and submit for purposes of filing the appropriate charges. It will submit its recommendations to Baldoz.