NBI recommends raps vs. officials in 'sex-for-flight' scheme

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday recommended to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the filing of criminal charges against a government official tagged in a 'sex-for-flight' scheme that victimized migrant Filipino workers in the Middle East.

DOJ said the NBI final report, forwarded to Prosecutor General Claro Arellano and DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, recommended charges for attempted rape and three counts of abuses against chastity against a male assistant labor attache and a driver of a labor attache assigned to an embassy in the Middle East. DOJ did not give the names of the people referred to in the report.

"The recommendation, which includes filing of administrative charges against the same Asst. Labor Attache accused of rape, and the Labor Attache who employed the locally hired chauffeur, was submitted to the Secretary of Justice, through a letter-referral signed by then Director Nonnatus Ceasar Rojas addressed to the attention of the Prosecutor General and the (National Prosecution Service)," DOJ said.

The state agency added that there was also a recommendation for further investigation of other complains.

The investigation stemmed from a complaint by three overseas Filipino workers who were allegedly victimized by the government officials overseas.