DOLE recommends charges against officials in 'sex-for-fly' scheme

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recommended on Friday the filing of administrative charges against three government officials tagged in the alleged 'sex-for-fly' scheme victimizing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East.

"...[O]n the basis of the team’s finding of the existence of prima facie case, I have approved its recommendation to file administrative charges against the following officials for other infractions, specifically Labor Attaché Adam Musa for gross negligence; (officer-in-charge) Labor Attaché Mario Antonio for grave misconduct; and Asst. Labor Attaché Antonio Villafuerte for simple negligence," DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

The state agency's fact-finding team recently concluded its investigation in the issue, which reportedly victimized migrant Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan.

Baldoz said that in addition to the simple negligence charge against Villafuerte, she also approved the team's recommendation to refer the complaints for sexual harassment to the DOLE Committee on Decorum and Investigation.

Under the law, the committee is tasked to investigate and hear sexual harassment cases. Five days from the receipt of the complaint to conduct a preliminary investigation, the committee is expected to formally file charges, Baldoz said.

She added that depending on the gravity of the offense, penalties under the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 range from suspension to dismissal from the service.

"The charge against Asst. Labor Attaché Villafuerte will be endorsed to the DOLE Legal Service for formal hearing," Baldoz said.

The Cabinet official said the statements and documents on the allegations were submitted last July 18 to the Department of Justice to evaluate the possibility of criminal liability.

"We are implementing other reforms at the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices, including those that will be jointly implemented with the Department of Foreign Affairs, under the 'One Country Team' Approach, where the Ambassador is the Head of the Post,” she said.

She added that she has issued Administrative Orders 262 and 262-A, which seeks to improve the operations of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office to prevent further cases of abuse against OFWs.

"I have also issued Administrative Order 333, series of 2013 to facilitate the on-site training and processing of the requirements of our distressed OFWs so that they will be entitled to the reintegration packages (livelihood starter kits) upon their repatriation. The kits will be ready for distribution to the workers upon their arrival in the Philippines," she said.

Last June 18, Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, chair of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, tagged three government officials involved in the alleged scheme.