DOJ OKs indictment of labor exec for sexual abuse of OFWs

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the indictment of a labor official earlier tagged in alleged sexual abuses of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in labor centers in the Middle East.

Investigating prosecutors found probable cause to file a case for two counts of abuse against chastity against the assistant labor attaché who was not identified due to a confidentiality rule in the law.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by a victim, a household worker in Saudi Arabia, whose identity was also withheld.

“Respondent made an indecent proposal to (complainant) when the former asked the latter if her employer touched her private parts, and if her employer did not, would she allow him to do it,” the DOJ explained.

The DOJ also cited a telephone conversation between the respondent and the complainant where the former allegedly made sexual solicitation in relation to the latter’s repatriation.

The fiscals, however, dismissed for lack of probable cause complaints for attempted rape and abuse against chastity filed by two other complainants.

The DOJ dismissed the attempted rape against the labor official due to failure of the complainant to appear during preliminary investigation. But it explained that the dismissal was without prejudice to re-filing of the same complaint.

The other charge, which involved an offer of part-time job by the official, was dismissed since complainant admitted during hearing her belief was “mere suspicion or presumption.”

In a separate case, the DOJ also approved the indictment of a driver of another labor attaché from the same embassy for acts of lasciviousness.